List of Ignaz Pleyel String Quartets (Ben 301 - 370)

Ignaz Pleyel, born 1757 up to 1837, was perhaps one of most successful Classical Era composer during those times. Apart from being Haydn pupils, he continuously enjoy popularity for his works,  whether a concertos and chamber music. In chamber music he wrote about 84 quartets and 70 of them are in string quartets form, Dr. Rita Benton thematic catalog well documented those in Ben 301 - 370. His string quartets received praises as early as his Op.1 Ben 301. The admirers are none other than Mozart himself. Mozart wrote a letter to his father urged the senior to take a copy of the Pleyel's works because it is worth while, at the same letter praise Haydn as Pleyel's tutor and express good word to have Pleyel rise to fame replacing Haydn.

Pictures of Pleyel Piano Manufacturer

Of the seventy string quartets, unfortunately some are missing or incomplete. This is an ironic because Pleyel main business is not composing but an entrepreneur in score publishing. His publishing office portfolios included all Haydn's string quartets, Hummel's, Beethoven, Mozart and Boccherini's. His company flag was named Chez Pleyel. Yet, somehow not all his works are published, including his legacy in string quartet genre are not yet fully discovered.

Pleyel popularity has been enjoying an increased recently. His works begin to spurred out of recording label and many works had been recorded. His string quartets also begin to received attention from listeners and scholars. Several disc had been released. This article  try to listed out the available recording of his string quartets. In the hope that someday we will able to listen a full discography of Pleyel string quartets works. The Pleyel string quartets are the true forgotten string quartets!

List of Ignaz Pleyel String Quartets (Ben 301 - 370)

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Op.1 - 1782-84
301 String Quartet in C major
302 String Quartet in E ♭ major
303 String Quartet in A major incomplete
304 String Quartet in B♭ major incomplete
305 String Quartet in G major
306 String Quartet in D major
notes: this is the quartets Mozart got in hand with. Pleyel noted that the quartet written in Italy style, neither complicated in terms of execution, nor as profound in artistic senses.

Op.2 - dedicated to Joseph Hayden 1784
307 String Quartet in A major - recorded by Enso String Quartet Vol.1
308 String Quartet in C major
309 String Quartet in G minor - also recorded by the Schein String Quartet* (see comments section below)
310 String Quartet in E♭ major - recorded by Enso String Quartet Vol.2
311 String Quartet in B♭ major
312 String Quartet in D major

Enso String Quartet in Op.2 Ben 307-312 - NAXOS

314 String Quartet in A major 1785
315 String Quartet in E minor 1785
316 String Quartet in C major 1785
317 String Quartet in E♭ major 1785
318 String Quartet in D major 1785

Op.6 - see score
313 String Quartet in B♭ major 1785  
319 String Quartet in C major 1786
320 String Quartet in G major 1786
321 String Quartet in F major 1786
322 String Quartet in A major 1786
323 String Quartet in B♭ major 1786
324 String Quartet in D major 1786

325 String Quartet in E♭major 1786
326 String Quartet in B♭ major 1786
327 String Quartet in A major 1786 
328 String Quartet in C major 1786
329 String Quartet in G major 1786
330 String Quartet in F major 1786

dedicated to the King of Prussia (Friedrich Wilhelm II) 1786
331 String Quartet in B♭ major - Op.8 (Artaria) ; Op.9 Book 1 (Forster) 
332 String Quartet in G major - Op.8 (Artaria) ; Op.9 Book 1 (Forster) 
333 String Quartet in D minor - Op.8 (Artaria) ; Op.9 Book 1 (Forster) 

334 String Quartet in C major - recorded by Pleyel Quartet Koln
335 String Quartet in A major
336 String Quartet in E♭ major

337 String Quartet in D major - recorded by Pleyel Quartett Koln
338 String Quartet in F major
339 String Quartet in G minor

Pleyel Quartett Koln - Pleyel String Quartet Ben 334-339 - CPO

340 String Quartet in G major - Op.11 - recorded by Quartetto Luigi Tomasini
341 String Quartet in C minor - Op.11
342 String Quartet in D major - Op.11

Quartetto Luigi Tomasini - Pleyel String Quartet Ben 340-342 - HUNGAROTON

343 String Quartet in F major 1788 
344 String Quartet in A major 1788
345 String Quartet in F major 1788

Dedicated to the Prince of Wales 1788
346 String Quartet in C major
347 String Quartet in F major
348 String Quartet in E♭ major
349 String Quartet in G major
350 String Quartet in B♭ major
351 String Quartet in A major

352 String Quartet in E♭ major 1788 - recorded by Janacek Quartet (together with String Sextet in F major, Ben 261, String Quintet in G minor, Ben 287)

Dedicated to the King of Naples 1791
353 String Quartet in C major 1791
354 String Quartet in B♭ major 1788
355 String Quartet in E minor 1791
356 String Quartet in G major 1791
357 String Quartet in A major 1791
358 String Quartet in F minor 1791

359 String Quartet in F major 1792
360 String Quartet in B♭ major 1792
361 String Quartet in D major 1792
362 String Quartet in E♭ major 1792
363 String Quartet in G major 1792
364 String Quartet in E major 1792

Op.67 (Andre) / Op.42 (Artaria) - Dedicated to Luigi Boccherini
365 String Quartet in C major 1803 - recorded by Janacek Quartet
366 String Quartet in B♭ major 1803
367 String Quartet in F minor 1803

Dedicated to Giovanni Batttista Viotti - 1810
368 String Quartet in E♭ major - recorded by Janacek Quartet
369 String Quartet in D major

370 String Quartet in G minor

Janacek Quartet - Pleyel String Quartet Ben 365-370 in two volumes - Ars Production