String Quartet No. 13

Beethoven's 13th Quartet (Op. 130) in B-flat Major is traditionally assigned the number 13 based on its publication date, though it was acutally the 14th quartet he composed. This work features a unique 6 movement structure which mirrors Beethoven's traditional form used in many symphonies and quartets, but repeating the two middle movements. In its original form, this quartet included the Grosse Fuge as its finale. After the first performance received mixed reviews, Beethoven replaced the finale with the movement included in this version and published the Grosse Fuge as a separate work.