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S48E2

Now Hear This “Haydn: King of Strings”

Premiere: 9/18/2020 | 0:30 |

Explore the work of famed composer Joseph Haydn’s career with host Scott Yoo and featured guest artists as he discovers how Haydn borrowed folk music from Scotland, Hungary and Austria to create his famous “Emperor Quartet.”

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About the Episode

Great Performances: Now Hear This “Haydn: King of Strings”

Premieres Friday, September 18 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/nowhearthis and the PBS Video app

When Joseph Haydn visited England, he was so taken with “God Save the King” that he wanted to write an anthem for Austria’s monarch. Host Scott Yoo discovers how Haydn borrowed folk music from Scotland, Hungary and Austria to create his “Emperor Quartet.” Along the way, he and guest violinist Geoff Nuttall reveal how Haydn created the string quartet format, providing an inside look and deeper appreciation for the genre. Haydn went on to write more great string quartets than any other composer.

Places visited: Eisenstadt, Rohrau and Vienna, Austria; Fertod, Hungary; London; Charleston, S.C.

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Features

Scott Yoo’s Haydn Listening Journey
Now Hear This “Haydn: King of Strings” -- Haydn's Emperor Quartet CLIP: 1:48
Haydn's Emperor Quartet
Geoff Nuttal and the St. Lawrence Quartet play Haydn's classic Emperor Quartet for Scott.
Now Hear This “Haydn: King of Strings” -- Scott Yoo Performs Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata CLIP: 3:51
Scott Yoo Performs Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata
Scott Yoo, host of "Now Hear This," performs an excerpt from Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata.
About the Series
Join Scott Yoo, renowned violinist and conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic, in Now Hear...
TRANSCRIPT

[music begins] I'm Scott Yoo. Come with me across Austria and Hungary, London and Charleston with Geoff Nuttall.

Geoff Nuttall: If you're in a string quartet, Haydn's the man.

Joseph Haydn Geoff Nuttall: Haydn didn't everything first and better.

He created the string quartet.

A real melting pot of different cultures.

[bagpipes playing] Discover how Haydn became the 'King of Strings.'

From the music series, 'Now Hear This' on 'Great Performances.'