Problems in the Bass Parts of Haydn's String Quartets

FAIN: FA-12302-78

James Webster
Cornell University (Ithaca, NY 14850-2820)

To study the problems in the bass parts of Haydn's string quartets. In his string quartets, the cello often crosses over another part. Such passages are not only interesting in their own right, but they also raise larger and more fundamental problems: What is the identity of the bass in such a passage? And what are the criteria by which we decide? This study of bass crossings will clarify many of these vital distinctions for the first time.