Feb-Mar 1974
For further details see individual movements.
The original slow movement (composed 15-18 May 1931) was discarded, although the draft survives in the archive (see Sources).
The work was given a private run-through by the Stratton Quartet on 16 March 1932. It was revised by the composer in 1974 as a first step towards returning to composition after his heart surgery the previous year. At Britten's request the Gabrieli String Quartet gave the work a run-through on 20 March 1974 in the Library at The Red House so that he could evaluate his revisions.
Allegro maestoso
9-29 May 1931
Endellion String Quartet. ( EMI CMS5651152).
Lento ed espressivo
29 May-2 June 1931
Endellion String Quartet. ( EMI CMS5651152).
Allegro giocoso
Endellion String Quartet. ( EMI CMS5651152).
String quartet in D major
Published in 1974.
Feb-Mar 1974
Holographs
Composition draft
Annotated draft with dates and signatures.
Pencil; 26.6 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
'STRING-QUARTET / in D major / [signature] / May 8th- Jun 2nd 1931'.
Discarded draft material
Discarded draft material from BBM/string_quartet_in_d_major/1/1, including the original slow movement (movement II).
Pencil; 26.3 x 19.1 cm [page 1], 26.3 x 35.5 cm [page 2-6]. Paper manufacturer = A L.
Instrumental part
Signed first violin part with annotations, mostly added during the work's revision in 1974. Britten has included a large revised section on pages 8v-9r. Rehearsal numbers have been included throughout.
Black ink, pencil and red pencil; 23.8 x 30.1 cm. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
'VIOLIN I / STRING QUARTET / IN D MAJOR / [SIGNATURE]'.
Feb-Mar 1974
Instrumental part
Signed second violin part with annotations, mostly added during the work's revision in 1974. Rehearsal numbers have been included throughout.
Black ink, pencil and red pencil; 23.8 x 30.1 cm. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
'VIOLIN II/ STRING QUARTET / IN D MAJOR / [SIGNATURE]'.
Feb-Mar 1974
Instrumental part
Signed viola part with annotations, mostly added during the work's revision in 1974. Rehearsal numbers have been included throughout.
Black ink, pencil and red pencil; 23.8 x 30.1 cm. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
'VIOLA/ STRING QUARTET / IN D MAJOR / [SIGNATURE]'.
Feb-Mar 1974
Instrumental part
Signed cello part with annotations, mostly added during the work's revision in 1974. Rehearsal numbers have been included throughout.
Black ink, pencil and red pencil;26.6 x 35.5 cm. Paper manufacturer = A L. See Title Page of Collected Volume.
'VIOLONCELLO/ STRING QUARTET / IN D MAJOR / [SIGNATURE]'.
Feb-Mar 1974
Revision sketches
Untitled page of revision material at the top of which Britten has written 'insert bottom of page 29' assumably in reference to the composition draft for this work. Includes some annotations by both Britten and Rosamund Strode.
Pencil; 28 x 38.3 cm.
Gabrieli String Quartet.
Gabrieli String Quartet.