A rare opportunity to take a deep-dive into the music of two profoundly important quartet composers side by side, this course leads students through the string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and Béla Bartók (1881-1945) to compare and contrast their approaches to the genre around 100 years apart from each other. Break week: 27 Oct 2026
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The string quartet was a central genre of chamber music from the early works of Mozart and Haydn to the music of Shostakovich and others in the 1900s. Among the many composers who worked in the quartet medium, Beethoven and Bartók stand out as pioneers and innovators, finding new ways to build themes, construct patterns of movements, and bring energy, emotion and unity to their pieces. We will examine Bartók’s six quartets, composed over the course of his career, and parallel these with Beethoven’s, including tracing the profound influence that Beethoven’s late quartets had on Bartók’s own experiments in form and design.
What will we cover?
General historical outline of the string quartet as a musical genre
Innovations in Beethoven’s quartets and their parallels with his music in other genres
Bartók’s interest in folk material and its impact on his compositions
Comparing and contrasting the approaches Beethoven and Bartók take to the quartet medium
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
List the components of a Classical string quartet (movements and forms)
Describe the ways in which Beethoven extends, avoids or replaces these components
Summarise Beethoven’s contribution to the quartet genre
Recognise the folk characteristics of Bartók’s compositional style
Describe some of the similarities and differences between the approaches of Beethoven and Bartók to the quartet
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is suitable for students at many levels, and no special music-reading skills are needed. However, a basic interest and beginners’ knowledge of classical music is advised for context: (e.g. What is a symphony? Which instruments are in a string quartet? And what do we mean by the Romantic tradition?)
This course is most suitable for those who regularly listen to classical music, as they will be able to compare/contrast the works on this course with memories of famous pieces of western classical music.
If you identify as an absolute beginner with little or no previous experience of listening to western classical music, we recommend you first consider our Exploring classical music courses which will introduce you to a basic chronology of western classical music.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Sessions will comprise combinations of lecture, discussion, quizzes, guided listening, video and score study. Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via Google Classroom. You will be encouraged to do extra reading and listening outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online in Google Classroom after each session.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
To find out more about music history classes please visit Music history: your guide to our programme, which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.
Dr Katy Hamilton is a freelance researcher, writer and presenter on music. She is fast becoming one of the UK’s most sought-after speakers on music, providing talks for a host of organisations including the Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, BBC Proms, Ryedale Festival and Oxford Lieder Festival. In addition, she regularly writes programme notes for the Salzburg Festival, North Norfolk Festival and the Philharmonia Orchestra, and is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio 3’s Record Review. Katy worked as Graham Johnson’s research assistant for his monumental Franz Schubert: The Songs and their Poets (Yale University Press, 2014) and is co-editor of Brahms in the Home and the Concert Hall (Cambridge University Press, 2014) and Brahms in Context (Cambridge University Press, 2019). In addition to her research and presentation work, Katy has taught at the Royal College of Music, City Lit, the University of Nottingham and Middlesex University, working with students in performance workshops and music history classes. She has been teaching Music History courses at City Lit since 2015. She is also Public Events Programmer at the Foundling Museum in central London.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/string-quartets-beethoven-and-bartok3034492String Quartets: Beethoven and Bartókhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Musicianship_for_singers-1024.jpg299299GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history/Courses/New courses228513141351136317431228513141351<p>A rare opportunity to take a deep-dive into the music of two profoundly important quartet composers side by side, this course leads students through the string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and Béla Bartók (1881-1945) to compare and contrast their approaches to the genre around 100 years apart from each other. <strong>Break week: 27 Oct 2026</strong></p>003034333String Quartets: Beethoven and Bartók299299https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Musicianship_for_singers-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-22T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Performing artsMD036A299299String Quartets: Beethoven and Bartók239209299Katy Hamiltonstring-quartets-beethoven-and-bartok/md036a-2627<p>A rare opportunity to take a deep-dive into the music of two profoundly important quartet composers side by side, this course leads students through the string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and Béla Bartók (1881-1945) to compare and contrast their approaches to the genre around 100 years apart from each other. <strong>Break week: 27 Oct 2026</strong></p>0000-Available|2026-09-22 00:00:00<p>The string quartet was a central genre of chamber music from the early works of Mozart and Haydn to the music of Shostakovich and others in the 1900s. Among the many composers who worked in the quartet medium, Beethoven and Bartók stand out as pioneers and innovators, finding new ways to build themes, construct patterns of movements, and bring energy, emotion and unity to their pieces. We will examine Bartók’s six quartets, composed over the course of his career, and parallel these with Beethoven’s, including tracing the profound influence that Beethoven’s late quartets had on Bartók’s own experiments in form and design.</p><p>A rare opportunity to take a deep-dive into the music of two profoundly important quartet composers side by side, this course leads students through the string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and Béla Bartók (1881-1945) to compare and contrast their approaches to the genre around 100 years apart from each other. <strong>Break week: 27 Oct 2026</strong></p><ul><li>General historical outline of the string quartet as a musical genre</li><li>Innovations in Beethoven’s quartets and their parallels with his music in other genres</li><li>Bartók’s interest in folk material and its impact on his compositions</li><li>Comparing and contrasting the approaches Beethoven and Bartók take to the quartet medium</li></ul><ul><li>List the components of a Classical string quartet (movements and forms)</li><li>Describe the ways in which Beethoven extends, avoids or replaces these components</li><li>Summarise Beethoven’s contribution to the quartet genre</li><li>Recognise the folk characteristics of Bartók’s compositional style</li><li>Describe some of the similarities and differences between the approaches of Beethoven and Bartók to the quartet</li></ul><p>The course is suitable for students at many levels, and no special music-reading skills are needed. However, a basic interest and beginners’ knowledge of classical music is advised for context: (e.g. What is a symphony? Which instruments are in a string quartet? And what do we mean by the Romantic tradition?)</p><p>This course is most suitable for those who regularly listen to classical music, as they will be able to compare/contrast the works on this course with memories of famous pieces of western classical music.</p><p>If you identify as an absolute beginner with little or no previous experience of listening to western classical music, we recommend you first consider our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/searchcourse/?q=exploring+classical+music" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Exploring classical music courses</a> which will introduce you to a basic chronology of western classical music.</p><p>Sessions will comprise combinations of lecture, discussion, quizzes, guided listening, video and score study.<br>Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via Google Classroom.<br>You will be encouraged to do extra reading and listening outside class.</p><p>You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online in Google Classroom after each session.</p><p>To find out more about music history classes please visit <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Music history: your guide to our programme</a>, which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.</p>MusicMusic historyvirtual239299209MD036ANONETue22/09/26 - 01/12/2610:30 - 12:3010:3012:3010 sessions (over 11 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetKaty HamiltonBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-22T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Performing arts299299String Quartets: Beethoven and Bartókstring-quartets-beethoven-and-bartok/md036a-2627<p>A rare opportunity to take a deep-dive into the music of two profoundly important quartet composers side by side, this course leads students through the string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and Béla Bartók (1881-1945) to compare and contrast their approaches to the genre around 100 years apart from each other. <strong>Break week: 27 Oct 2026</strong></p>0000-Available|2026-09-22 00:00:00<p>The string quartet was a central genre of chamber music from the early works of Mozart and Haydn to the music of Shostakovich and others in the 1900s. Among the many composers who worked in the quartet medium, Beethoven and Bartók stand out as pioneers and innovators, finding new ways to build themes, construct patterns of movements, and bring energy, emotion and unity to their pieces. We will examine Bartók’s six quartets, composed over the course of his career, and parallel these with Beethoven’s, including tracing the profound influence that Beethoven’s late quartets had on Bartók’s own experiments in form and design.</p><p>A rare opportunity to take a deep-dive into the music of two profoundly important quartet composers side by side, this course leads students through the string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and Béla Bartók (1881-1945) to compare and contrast their approaches to the genre around 100 years apart from each other. <strong>Break week: 27 Oct 2026</strong></p><ul><li>General historical outline of the string quartet as a musical genre</li><li>Innovations in Beethoven’s quartets and their parallels with his music in other genres</li><li>Bartók’s interest in folk material and its impact on his compositions</li><li>Comparing and contrasting the approaches Beethoven and Bartók take to the quartet medium</li></ul><ul><li>List the components of a Classical string quartet (movements and forms)</li><li>Describe the ways in which Beethoven extends, avoids or replaces these components</li><li>Summarise Beethoven’s contribution to the quartet genre</li><li>Recognise the folk characteristics of Bartók’s compositional style</li><li>Describe some of the similarities and differences between the approaches of Beethoven and Bartók to the quartet</li></ul><p>The course is suitable for students at many levels, and no special music-reading skills are needed. However, a basic interest and beginners’ knowledge of classical music is advised for context: (e.g. What is a symphony? Which instruments are in a string quartet? And what do we mean by the Romantic tradition?)</p><p>This course is most suitable for those who regularly listen to classical music, as they will be able to compare/contrast the works on this course with memories of famous pieces of western classical music.</p><p>If you identify as an absolute beginner with little or no previous experience of listening to western classical music, we recommend you first consider our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/searchcourse/?q=exploring+classical+music" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Exploring classical music courses</a> which will introduce you to a basic chronology of western classical music.</p><p>Sessions will comprise combinations of lecture, discussion, quizzes, guided listening, video and score study.<br>Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via Google Classroom.<br>You will be encouraged to do extra reading and listening outside class.</p><p>You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online in Google Classroom after each session.</p><p>To find out more about music history classes please visit <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Music history: your guide to our programme</a>, which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.</p>MusicMusic historyconfigurable
13631351Music historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history1/2/285/1314/1351/13631/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history
