In the course of a 50-year period, Haydn composed some 80 string quartets, whose range and variety of structural invention rank second only to those of Beethoven. This fine new anthology consists of the six pieces known collectively as Op. 17: String Quartet in E Major, Op. 17, No. 1; String Quartet in F Major, Op. 17, No. 2; String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3, and three other pieces.

At the centre of Bartók's œuvre are his string quartets, which are generally acknowledged as some of the most significant pieces of 20th century chamber music. This book examines these remarkable works from a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives.

Contents are: Allegretto (Op. 2, No. 5) * Allegro (Op. 3, No. 6) * The Bird (Op. 33, No. 3) * Cantabile (Op. 64, No. 5) * Canon (Op. 76, No. 2) * A Graceful Dance (Op. 3, No. 4) * The Horseman (Op. 74, No. 3) * In the Style of a Minuet (Op. 64, No. 5) * Menuetto (Op. 1, No. 1) * Menuetto (Op. 2 No. 4) * Menuetto (Op. 2, No. 5) * Menuetto (Op. 17, No. 2) * Menuetto (Op. 17, No. 3) * Menuetto (Op. 17, No. 5) * Perpetuo Mobile (Op. 64, No. 5) * Presto (Op. 1, No. 2) * Presto (Op. 2, No. 5) * Scherzo (Op. 3. No. 5)