Ensemble 360

HAYDN String Quartet in F minor Op.55 No.2 The Razor
STRAUSS Till Eulenspiegel Einmal Anders!
Arr. Franz Hasenöhrl for violin, clarinet, horn, bassoon and double bass
BEETHOVEN Septet in E flat Op.20
For clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and double bass

The Razor is the most innovative of Haydn’s Op.55 string quartets, a gentle yet lively work. Its curious nickname comes from a theory that the composer wrote the piece in exchange for a pair of razors.

Till Eulenspiegel is a mischievous character from German folklore. In this piece Strauss beautifully illustrates the humour and drama of the situations in which the impudent trickster finds himself.

Beethoven resented the popularity of his Septet because he felt there were other pieces more worthy of the public’s affection yet it is easy to hear why audiences love it so much; it is a joyful piece full of memorable tunes.