Haydn Serenade from String Quartet No. 18, Op. 3 No. 5 for Double Bass & Piano

This transcription for double bass and piano is from Haydn's String Quartet No. 18, Opus 3, No. 5 in F Major, composed around 1765. The Quartet gets its subtitle, 'Serenade,' from the slow movement which is a violin solo (con sordino) with pizzicato accompaniment. This movement is a good example ofthe song­ like style ofthe slow movements in Haydn's early quartets.

However, the authenticity of the six quartets known as Opus 3 has been challenged by Laslo Somfai ('Haydn Emlekere' — with abstract in German — Budapest, 1965, page 295). It seems possible that they are compositions by one ofHaydn's pupils, Romanus Hofstetter.