Best String Quartet...Ever.

Morton Feldman's string quartets both approach boredom.

I think so too. But in a good way. I often think that with Feldman's music, the constant changes in the listeners perspective (attentive listening, drifting off, boredom, relaxation, etc.) and the different perceptions of musical time/form/structure that result from it, are some of the fundamental (if not the fundamental) qualities of Feldman's work.

Oh yes, Feldman's music is something very different from minimalism to me.

Oddly, I think of the ode to joy in his ninth symphony in the same way. But I'm sure it's just me.

Oh, I'd prefer the 9th symphony without the ode to joy too. Actually, I'd have preferred if Beethoven had never written that ridiculous tune in the first place :P

As for the Grosse Fuge: Well, yes, it seems somewhat weirdly proportioned (in terms of "weight") at the end of Op. 130 - but then, balanced proportions bore me to death.

defo Ravel

Nobody's mentioned Dvorak's America quartet yet. It's not necessarily my favourite, but I think it seems to sum up about everything good in humanity. It's a piece that I know I can put on and always feel happy by its conclusion.

Anyway, just tossing that one into the bag!

Bartok 4

Christopher Rouse 1, 2

Ravel

Shostakovich 8

Corigliano 1

There's something about Ravel's quartet that really speaks to me.. The second movement is so loveable (haven't studied it enough to make any serious comments about it).

Ravel? Oh! You must mean Bartok! XD

Three Pieces for String Quartet by Stravinsky is a great piece.

I prefer Ligeti's 1st over his 2nd.

Bartok's 4th and 5th.

Bartok's second, esp. mvt. 2.

Beethoven's late quartets (especially opp. 131 and 132) are my favorites. Sublime. It's actually my favorite music of all time.

Shostakovich nos. 7, 8, 9, 13 and 15 are great, too.

And Barber.

And Haydn.

But Beethoven's quartets started my interest in string quartets... And made me write some.

I have to add another vote for Ravel's quartet. Perhaps it's not as tight in form and development as other pieces, but it's so well orchestrated and I love the harmonies (plus the motives are fun to follow throughout). And every time I hear the second movement I'm reminded of The Royal Tenenbaums!

Does anyone like Dutilleux?

[Edit] I just saw Morgri's post, so there's one vote! [Edit]

Bartok's are good, Shostakovitch's are good. By far my favorite string quartet of all time is Schubert's Death and The Maiden quartet! That and the Grosses Fugue of Beethoven. My absolute 2 favorites!

Schumman quartets are awesome too!

Siblelius' Voces Initimae may not be groundbreaking but is very solid and definitely fun to listen to.

The string quartets of E.J. Moeran are also fabulous as he meshes the folk music of his land (England) with French and British impressionism but still retains a strong sense of form, so the quartets feel like a story.

I would also recommend Prokofiev's first quartet.

I don't know, but for me, the Schumann quartet isn't very vocal/strong melodically/doesn't tell a convincing story, so I am not pulled into the music.

Beethoven's late quartets are incredible! My favorite has to be the final movement of the C# Quartet.

But Beethoven's quartets started my interest in string quartets... And made me write some.

Same here.

I seem to be alone in my stubborn admiration for the first two Schönberg quartets...

then again, Dvorak's ''American'' quartet is very enjoyable.

I hope to write one of the best string quartets EVVVAr.

Well if I have the will.

Schubert is cool....when quoted in George Crumb's Black Angels! haha...

Schubert is a great melodist and harmonist, but large scale form - not so much. And really, enough with the age comparison to Beethoven. Schubert died at age 31. By age 34 Beethoven single-handedly changed the entire course of music with his 3rd Symphony. 3 years - big deal. There is no comparison to Beethoven. Period.

As for greatest string quartet - without a question the C# minor quartet, op.131. by Beethoven. The greatest single piece for SQ would easily be op. 133, the Grosse Fuge. Beethoven's late works are just a completely higher level than anyone else's works, with the possible exception of some of J.S. Bach.

Other quartets that seriously kick donkey..........

Morton Feldman's Quartet #2

Elliott Carter's Quartets 1-4

Lutoslawski Quartet

Phillip Glass #2

Schoenberg 3 & 4

Bartok (ALL)

Beethoven (Middle and other Late Quartets)

And honorable mention to Haydn for inventing the genre and for his late quartets. Gotta love Papa Haydn!

Ravel, Debussy, some of the Haydn, Elliot Carter 3, all Bartok, all Shosty, Sibelius. Also, Stravinsky wrote one which I also thought was cool.... AND Beethoven C# minor is the other. Shoenberg I like too..but I prefer the first ones.

Out of all of those, my Favorite is Bartok 5th... I LOVE THAT! :D next probably Ravel.

What about Martinů’s string quartets? Nobody has named them yet… All of them belong to my favourites, as well as Bartók (all), Schönberg (esp. 1), Brahms 1+2 and Beethoven of course.

Plus, I have yet to discover most of Shostakovich’s, all Hindemith and Prokofiev, and I'm interested in Henze and Rihm as well.

I'll just list a few: Schubert 14, Mendelssohn 6, Grieg 1 (if you've never heard this, listen to it. it's amazing), Bartok 4, Shostakovich 8, Smetana 1 (probably because I play viola), Debussy 1, Ravel 1, Borodin 2, and many others.

String Quartets are my favorite. Ravel's is genius, and as mentioned above, Grieg's quartet is incredible! But Beethoven was the master of the string quartet, no doubt

Sorry to revisit this topic again, but I have a few more to add after listening to more string quartets. Mendelssohn 2 and 4 and Beethoven 9 and 13 (for some reason I'm not that big a fan of number 14, but I've only listened to the first movement at this point) are all awesome. Anyone who questions Mendelssohn's strength as a composer needs to listen to his string quartets. If his parents hadn't attempted to conceal his brilliance, he might have been received as as much a of prodigy as Mozart (although he's much better in my opinion).

I can hardly name one quartet "best." Every standard quartet I've heard has been incredible. However, here are a few personal favourites:

Britten no. 1

Ravel

Janáček no. 2

Borodin no. 2

Shostakovich no. 11

And, of course, Bartók no. 4