composed by Mendelssohn
String Quartet No.2 in A major Op.13 was composed in 1827 when Mendelssohn was 18 years old. It begins and ends using the same phrase which is the theme of this music. The melody of the phrase is based on his song, Twelve Lieder Op.9-1, “Frage, Ist es wahr? (Is it true?)”, which had been composed in 1825. It is said that Mendelssohn was fallen in love at that time. This song must tell his mind. To understand this wonderful Quartet, Op.13, it is valuable to play this song. This is an arrangement of Op.9-1 is for string quartet (original is for voice and piano). All the notes are faithful to the original.
The text is by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751-1826).
Ist es wahr? Ist es wahr?
Daß du stets dort in dem Laubgang,
An der Weinwand meiner harrst?
Und den Mondschein und die Sternlein
Auch nach mir befragst?
Ist es wahr? Sprich!
Was ich fühle, das begreift nur,
Die es mit fühlt,
Und die treu mir ewig,
Tren mir ewig, ewig bleibt.
- String Quaret (2 Violins, Viola & Violoncello)
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