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5

String Quartet No. 1 in C major, Op. 49

Dmitri Shostakovich · 1906–1975 · Russian
For 2 violins, viola, cello
Level 5 · Advanced — about ABRSM 8 · RCM 9, for the violin 1 part
MajorLyricalPlayfulTenderLesser-known

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Ensemble
String quartet
Hardest part
Violin 1
Form
Full work
Length
About 15 min
Composed
1938
Era
20th century

Notes

Sunny and compact; the most approachable of the fifteen

A step before · level 4

Simple Symphony, Op. 4
Benjamin Britten
2 violins, viola, cello
String quartet2 violins, viola, cello
17 min
MajorLivelyWell-known
4violin 1
String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat major, D. 87
Franz Schubert
2 violins, viola, cello
String quartet2 violins, viola, cello
26 min
MajorLyricalLesser-known
4violin 1
String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 16 No. 2
Paul Wranitzky
2 violins, viola, cello
String quartet2 violins, viola, cello
18 min
MajorLyricalLesser-known
4violin 1
String quartet2 violins, viola, cello
19 min
MajorLivelyWell-known
4violin 1

A step after · level 6

Lady Audrey's Suite, Op. 19
Herbert Howells
2 violins, viola, cello
String quartet2 violins, viola, cello
20 min
MajorLyricalLesser-known
6violin 1
String Quartet No. 4 in E major
Guy Ropartz
2 violins, viola, cello
String quartet2 violins, viola, cello
18 min
MajorLyricalLesser-known
6violin 1
String Quartet No. 2 in D major
Alexander Borodin
2 violins, viola, cello
String quartet2 violins, viola, cello
28 min
MajorLyricalWell-known
6violin 1
String Quartet No. 6 in G major, Op. 101
Dmitri Shostakovich
2 violins, viola, cello
String quartet2 violins, viola, cello
24 min
MajorLyricalWell-known
6balanced