String Quartet No. 13 (Beethoven)

The String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat major, Opus 130, by Ludwig van Beethoven was completed in 1825. Its original form consisted of six movements totalling approximately 50 minutes; they are as follows:

1. Adagio, ma non troppo - Allegro
2. Presto
3. Andante con moto, ma non troppo. Poco scherzoso
4. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai.
5. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo
6. Große Fuge: Overtura - Allegro - Fuga

After the first performance of this work, mixed reactions and publisher suggestion convinced Beethoven to substitute a different final movement. The original final movement was then published separately as Opus 133. Beethoven was quite fond of fugues in his later years (others can be found in the final movements of the Hammerklavier Sonata and the Piano Sonata No. 31).