A Federal Fanfare at the Franklins’

  • A Federal Fanfare at the Franklins’

    Travel back in time with the Franklin Quartet as they evoke Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia homecoming in the fall of 1785, after a remarkable decade in Paris. Picture Franklin hosting a private house concert, reconnecting with friends through string quartets by Boccherini, Saint-Georges, Gossec, Rigel, and Pleyel. Many of these composers were not only admired by Franklin but personally known to him through the dazzling Parisian salons of his friend Madame Brillon. “A Federal Fanfare at the Franklins’!” is performed in the intimate, historic Christ Church Neighborhood House Theater. Join us for an evening of virtuosity, passion, and revolutionary spirit, celebrating a unique fusion of diplomacy and culture in early America.

  • Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

    Quartet No. 2 in G-minor (G196), Op. 26 (Composed in 1778)

    Larghetto

    Minuetto

    Romanze

    Tempo di Minuetto

    Henri-Joseph Riegel (1741-1799)

    Quartet No. 6 in A-minor, Op. 10 (Composed in ca. 1773) 

    Allegro

    Siciliano

    Grazioso

    François-Joseph Gossec (1734-1829)

    Quartet No. 5 in E-major, Op. 15 (Composed in 1772)

    Larghetto

    Englese

    Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799)

    Quartet no. 4 in C-minor, Op. 1 (Composed approx. in 1771)

    Allegro Moderato

    Rondeau

    Ignaz Pleyel (1757-1831)

    Quartet No. 2 in D-major (B312), Op. 2 (Composed in 1784)

    Finale, Allegro

    Total timing: 60min

Linnea Borealis

  • Linnea Borealis

    It all began with Linnaea Borealis— the beloved Nordic flower of Franklin Quartet’s resident Finn, Marika. That delicate blossom led us to Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, the brilliant 18th-century biologist and father of taxonomy who, like Marika, admired the plant so deeply that he made it his namesake. His star student, Peter Kalm, became our next link. Kalm not only originated from Marika’s home region in Finland, but he also ended up teaching one of her ancestors! In 1748, Linnaeus sent Kalm to North America to study and document the flora of the East Coast. Upon docking in Philadelphia, Kalm quickly struck up a close friendship with Benjamin Franklin. He also forged strong ties with the Church of Weekacko, better known as Old Swedes,’ South Philly’s historic gem which commemorated its 325th anniversary this June. Come join the Franklin Quartet in celebrating these remarkable connections with a musical journey through rarely heard Swedish quartet gems from the 18th and 19th centuries by Amanda Maier-Röntgen, Joseph Martin Kraus, and Franz Berwald.

  • Joseph Martin Kraus (1756-1792)

    Quartet in G minor, “Fugenquartett” (the “Fugue Quartet”),

    Opus 1, No. 3, VB² 183 (1777)

    Andante comodo — Adagio — Tempo primo

    Romanze

    Tempo di Minuetto

    Franz Berwald (1796-1868)

    From Quartet in G minor, No. 1 (1818)

    Poco Adagio

    Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853-1894)

    From Quartet in A major (1877)

    Andante

    Scherzo. Allegro non troppo 

    Joseph Martin Kraus

    Quartet in D major, “Abschiedsquartett” (the “Farewell Quartet”),

    Opus 1, No. 4, VB² 184 (ca. 1777)

    Allegro

    Larghetto

    Allegro Molto


    Total timing: +/- 60min

We Women

  • We Women

    The prejudice about women’s creative abilities in the 18th and 19th centuries was largely a direct result of writings of leading European political/philosophical figures such as Jean Jaques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant. In 1758 Rousseau wrote:

    “Women in general possess no artistic sensibility . . . nor genius. They can acquire a knowledge . . . of anything through hard work. But the celestial fire that emblazons and ignites the soul, the inspiration that consumes and devours . . . these sublime ecstasies that reside in the depths of the heart are always lacking in women’s writings. These creations are as cold and pretty as women”.

    Being a girl prodigy in that time, to say the least, was not easy. While some girls would grow up to perform for family and friends, it was not considered appropriate for them to pursue music academically or professionally. It was not unknown that some girls would receive an academic education, but the motive behind that was for the families to achieve a higher societal status. After the young talented women finished their studies, often at the top of their class, they were married off and returned to performing and/or composing within the confines of the in-home “salon culture.”

    In “We Women” Franklin Quartet brings forward poet Edith Södergran and composers Fanny Hensel, Emilie Mayer, Amanda Maier-Röntgen, and Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen. These five remarkable women, all European but hailing from countries as diverse as Finland, Sweden, Germany and Italy, refused to become ornaments. In the face of daunting odds and rigid societal norms, they fought for their art and the root of their being for their entire lives. Join us in reveling in their breathtaking genius.

  • Poems by Edith Södergran (1892-1923)

    Emilie Mayer (1812-1883)

    From Quartet in G Minor, Op. 14, No. 1

    I. Allegro appassionato — II. Scherzo. Allegro assai - Trio. Un poco più lento

    Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen (1745-1818)

    Quartet No. 3 in G Minor

    Tempo giusto — Allegro - Sostenuto

    Amanda Maier-Röntgen (1853-1894)

    From Quartet in A major

    III. Scherzo. Allegro non troppo

    Fanny Hensel (1805-1847)

    Quartet in E-flat Major

    Adagio ma non troppo — Allegretto — Romanze — Allegro molto vivace


    Total timing: +/- 60min

Nomadic Rhapsodies

  • For centuries, Western Europe has viewed the Ottoman Turks and Romani as exotic. Relative to the rest of Europe they were geographically nearby but remote in custom. It was perceived that their music evoked sensualism and voluptuousness as well as something dangerous and menacing. 18th century composers were tickled to bring these foreign musical elements into their works. No matter how fleeting those musical moments may have been in the context of broader compositions, they elicited images of the “exotic” or “otherness.” How should we respectfully observe this in today’s modern society? As alluring as those snippets are, they don’t exist without controversy. Join the Franklin Quartet as we explore the Ottoman Empire and Romani influence in string quartets by Haydn and Dittersdorf interspersed with traditional Armenian folk tunes.

  • Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739 - 1799)
    Quartet No. 5 in E-flat major, Kr. 195

    Allegro — Menuetto: Non troppo presto/Alternativo — Finale: Allegro

    Komitas Vartabed (1869 - 1935)
    A Selection of Armenian Folk Songs

    The Red Shawl — Echmiadzin Dance — Girl’s Dance — Festive Song

    Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809)
    Quartet No. 2 in C major, Op. 54

    Vivace — Adagio — Menuetto: Allegretto — Adagio/Presto/Adagio


    Total timing: +/- 60min

Northern Lights

  • Explore Scandinavia in this program of rarely heard treasures for string quartet from the land of the midnight sun. Curated by the Franklin Quartet’s resident Finn, Marika Holmqvist, Northern Lights presents music by Haydn’s neighbors to the north, including Kraus, nicknamed ‘the Swedish Mozart’, and Wikmanson whose quartets where greatly admired by none other than Haydn himself.

  • Mix ‘n’ Match Quartet No. 1

    The Swede: Joseph Martin Kraus (1756-1792)
    Quartet in C minor, VB 179

    Largo - Andantino – Allegro

    The Finn, Erik Tulindberg (1761-1814)
    Quartet in D minor, No. 2

    Minuetto

    Joseph Martin Kraus
    Quartet in D major, Op. 1, No. 4, VB 184

    Allegro molto

    INTERMISSION

    Mix ‘n’ Match Quartet No. 2

    Erik Tulindberg
    Quartet in G major, No. 4

    Allegro assai

    The Swede, Johan Wikmanson (1753-1800)
    Quartet in D minor, Op. 1, No. 1

    Adagio

    The Swede, Joachim Nicolas Eggert (1779-1813)
    Quartet in G major

    Menuetto

    Erik Tulindberg
    Quartet in D minor, No. 2

    Allegro

    Total time: +/- 60min of music

Chiaroscuro

  • In the hands of the eighteenth century's finest musical minds, the string quartet came to life in an outpouring of expression at once dazzling and dramatic, beguiling and bold. Experience the sweeping emotional language of the early string quartet "Chiaroscuro," featuring works written by Mozart, Haydn and Boccherini at their creative peaks, performed by the Franklin Quartet.

  • Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
    Quartet in E-flat major “The Joke”, Op. 33, No. 2

    Allegro moderato – Scherzo – Largo e sostenuto – Finale/Presto

    Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)
    Quartet in C major, Op. 2, No. 6

    Allegro con spirito – Largo – Minuetto e Trio

    Franz Joseph Haydn
    Quartet in F minor, Op. 20, No. 5

    Moderato – Menuet – Adagio – Finale: Fuga a 2 soggetti

    INTERMISSION

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
    Quartet in G major, K. 387, No. 14

    Allegro vivace assai – Menuetto – Andante cantabile – Molto Allegro

    Total time: 60 min. of music

Ben in Paris

  • When Benjamin Franklin arrived in Paris on December 21st, 1776 he was considered the best known American in the world. He quickly became the talk of the town. Everyone wanted a piece of his wit, his intelligence and good company. He became a prominent fixture at the Parisian high society salons where he could be found comingling with composers on this afternoon’s program; Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Gossec, Rigel and Mozart. Franklin Quartet wishes to transport you to one of these fascinating musical salons. It could be at the Petit Appartement de la Reine at the Palace of Versailles, hosted by Queen Marie Antoinette, or at one of the grand houses of Ben’s favorite ladies, Mme Brillon and Mme Helvetius – you can decide for yourself! Let us take you on a musical and narrative journey to Ben’s Paris!

  • Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745 - 1799)
    Quartet in G major, No. 5, Op. 14

    Allegro assai – Gratioso

    François Joseph Gossec (1735 - 1829)
    Quartet in E major, No. 5, Op. 15

    Larghetto – Englese

    Henri-Joseph Rigel (1741 - 1799)
    Quartet in A minor, No. 6, Op. 10

    Allegro – Siciliano – Grazioso

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
    Quartet in C major "Dissonance," No. 19, KV. 465

    Adagio/Allegro – Andante Cantabile

    Total time: 48:48

The Goethe Connection

  • The Sturm und Drang movement (1760s-1780s), with Goethe in the forefront, came to be associated with literature or music aimed at shocking the audience and moving them to extremes of emotion. The principal driver of the movement was rebellion against the constraints and rational ideals of the Enlightenment. In “The Goethe Connection” the Franklin Quartet explores the ways Haydn, Mendelssohn, Kraus and Vanhal embrace of this ethos.

  • Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
    Quartet in G minor, Op. 20, No. 3

    Allegro con spirito – Minuetto/Allegretto – Poco adagio – Finale/Allegro di molto

    Johann Baptiste Vanhal (1739-1813)
    Quartet in C minor, No. 1

    Allegro moderato – Adagio – Minuetto – Allegro

    Joseph Martin Kraus (1756-1792)
    Quartet in C minor, VB 179

    Largo – Andantino

    Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
    Quartet, Op. 81, No. 7

    Capriccio: Andante con moto/Allegro fugato

    Total time: 60 min.

Archived Portfolio

By George!

  • Pathos and passion, explosive international politics, extravagance, and dramatic deaths – the lives of England’s King Georges are enough to make even the most unshakeable historian exclaim ‘by George!’ Discover the Britain’s other Fab Four through the lens of English and German quartets of the Georgian era, presented by the Franklin Quartet, with a lecture from the Franklin’s own British subject, violinist Rebecca Harris.

  • William Boyce (1711-1777)
    Symphony No. 6

    Largo – Allegro

    Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
    Sonata in A major

    Affettuoso – Allegro

    William Shield (1748-1829)
    Quartet in C minor, Op. 3, No. 6

    Allegro

    Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)
    Quartet in E-flat major

    Adagio con moto

    Samuel Wesley
    Quartet in E-flat major
    Finale: Allegro molto

    William Shield
    Quartet in C minor, Op. 3, No. 6

    Adagio

    George Onslow (1784-1853)
    Quartet in G minor, Op. 9, No. 1

    Allegro risoluto ma non troppo presto – Andante Religioso: “God Save the King”


    Total time: 60 min.