The Op. 33 String Quartets were written by Joseph Haydnin the summer and Autumn of 1781 for the Viennese publisher Artaria. This set of string quartets has several nicknames, the most common of which is the "Russian" quartets, because Haydn dedicated the quartets to the Grand Duke Paul of Russia and many of the quartets were premiered on Christmas Day, 1781, at the Viennese apartment of the Duke's wife, the Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna. The "Russian" quartets were some of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's favorite works by Haydn and in 1785 Mozart dedicated six string quartets to Haydn in admiration of the quartets.
Opus 33 No. 1
This quartet in B minor is numbered in variously as No. 31, Hob. III:37 and FHE No. 70. The first movement pretends to start in D major before settling in the home key of B minor, echoed by Haydn's later quartet in B minor, Op. 64, No. 2.
Opus 33 No. 2
This quartet in E major, nicknamed "The Joke" is numbered in variously as No. 30, Hob. III:38 and FHE No. 71.
Fourth movement
The fourth movement implemented a lighter character, originating from Haydn’s first shift from the minuet to the scherzo. It also portrayed some new features in Haydn's compositions, for example, the Rondo form, which satisfied audiences since the form was becoming enormously popular at this time. In a letter to Artaria, Haydn boasted about his pieces by saying, they are “a new and entirely special kind.” The rondo form of the final movement remains true to its definition by always returning to the tonic in the refrain.
Form
The "Rondo" results in an ABACA form. Chronologically, the first refrain beginning in E major, repeats each section, and, forming. In the first episode beginning in A major, moves to F minor and finally resolves to E major at the beginning of the second refrain , which is almost an exact repetition of the first refrain with the only change being the omission of the repeats. The second refrain is not only the arrival point of the tonic, but is also the final point of modulation for the remainder of the piece. The piece then progresses to new thematic material in the second episode , but, again, does not modulate to a new key. After the new material, the final refrain , should be considered A′ due to the refrain material being condensed. The end is quite unique; this particular coda changes the tempo to an adagio then, in the conclusion of the piece, moves to as Haydn teases the audience, hence the name, "The Joke." At the end of the Rondo, starting at m. 148, Haydn implements a joke in this piece. It begins with a grand pause that makes the audience wonder if the piece is over. This is followed by a sudden forte sixteenth note in the beginning of the adagio that shocks the audience. After this, the first violin plays the A theme of the opening phrase with rests interrupting the music every two bars. The rests get progressively longer, giving the impression that the piece is over many times in a row, making for an amusing ending. During this time period, it has been said that audiences would erupt in laughter at this humorous coda. Haydn used this coda not only to make fun of audiences confused as to where to applaud, but also amateur musicians who were too "beat-driven," and what he deemed a redundant rondo form. The entire movement is filled with other little “jokes.” For example, the large dominant preparation over a pedal base in the B section merely resolves to a small recapitulation of the opening theme. This toys with the audience and leaves their expectations cut short. Some may say that the only joke, besides the obvious ending, is on the people trying to find “the new and special way.” Others also argue that the adagio is a “remembrance of things past due,” hinting at the thought that it is time to advance music to another new level. Nevertheless, these carefully calculated humorous strategies give this piece its title “The Joke.”
Opus 33 No. 3
This quartet in C major, nicknamed "The Bird" is numbered in variously as No. 32, Hob. III:39 and FHE No. 72. The first movement opens with a melody in the first violin featuring repeated notes. Grace notes are inserted between the repeated notes which gives the melody a "birdlike quality" and hence gives the quartet its nickname.
Opus 33 No. 4
This quartet in B major is numbered in variously as No. 34, Hob. III:40 and FHE No. 73.
Opus 33 No. 5
This quartet in G major, nicknamed "How Do You Do", is numbered in variously as No. 29, Hob. III:41, and FHE No. 74. The first theme of the opening movement begins and ends with the same rising four-note cadence that gives the quartet its nickname. When the cadence appears at the end of the movement, it is repeated so as to emphasize the end of the movement and not the beginning of the theme. The second movement is an aria in G minor for first violin over a steady accompaniment in the other three instruments. The melody bears a strong resemblance to the oboe theme that begins the arioso "Che puro ciel" from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, which Haydn had directed at Eszterháza in 1778. The movement contains what is essentially a written-out, accompanied cadenza from mm. 41-50, and soon afterwards ends with a unison pizzicato G.
Opus 33 No. 6
This quartet in D major is numbered in variously as No. 33, Hob. III:42 and FHE No. 75. The finale is in double variation form with themes in D major and D minor.
