String Quartets, F major, op. 96 "American" / A-flat major, op. 105 cover

String Quartets, F major, op. 96 "American" / A-flat major, op. 105

Antonín Dvořák · 1998

53 min · 8 tracks · classical music

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
88 /100
Summit
Higher than 98% of albums we've rated

Two substantial, contrasting quartets give the album a clear shape; the writing is memorable and richly developed, though the specific performance cannot be judged from the suppli…

What we noticed

  • The four movements of Op. 96 move from a measured opening through a slow movement and scherzo to a brisk finale; the scherzo's quick pulse interrupts the opening movement's broader pace.
  • Op. 105 begins with a slow introduction before turning to an animated first movement, then places its long, singing Lento before the final Allegro.
  • The album pairs two complete quartets, each in four movements, rather than adding excerpts or unrelated pieces.
Composition 25% of the score
9/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
8/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 7/10

Defined its genre or moment. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 String Quartet no. 12 in F major, op. 96, B. 179 "American": I. Allegro ma non troppo 9:15
  • 2 String Quartet no. 12 in F major, op. 96, B. 179 "American": II. Lento 6:36
  • 3 String Quartet no. 12 in F major, op. 96, B. 179 "American": III. Molto vivace 3:37
  • 4 String Quartet no. 12 in F major, op. 96, B. 179 "American": IV. Finale: Vivace ma non troppo 5:12
  • 5 String Quartet no. 14 in A-flat major, op. 105, B. 193: I. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro appassionato 7:10
  • 6 String Quartet no. 14 in A-flat major, op. 105, B. 193: II. Molto vivace 5:42
  • 7 String Quartet no. 14 in A-flat major, op. 105, B. 193: III. Lento e molto cantabile 6:56
  • 8 String Quartet no. 14 in A-flat major, op. 105, B. 193: IV. Allegro non tanto 8:58

What to play next

Symphony No. 6 / Scherzo capriccioso / "American" Suite
Listen next

Symphony No. 6 / Scherzo capriccioso / "American" Suite

1998
Rusalka
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Rusalka

1998
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Reference: MusicBrainz