String Quintet, Op. 29 (Beethoven)


The String Quintet in C major, Op. 29, written by Ludwig van Beethoven, was composed in 1801. This work is scored for string quartet and an extra viola. The Op. 29 is Beethoven's only full-scale, original composition in the string quintet genre; of his other quintet works, the Op. 4 is an extensively reworked arrangement of the earlier Octet for Winds, Op. 103, the String Quintet Op. 104 is an arrangement of an earlier piano trio, and the later fugue is a fragmentary work.
The composer dedicated this work to Count Moritz von Fries, a patron to whom Beethoven also dedicated two other works of the same year—the Violin Sonatas No. 4 and No. 5—as well as his later Seventh Symphony.

Movements

  1. Allegro moderato
  2. Adagio molto espressivo
  3. Scherzo. Allegro
  4. Presto

    Influence

This quintet allegedly inspired Schubert to write his own string quintet in the same key.