Beethoven had frequently suffered with gastric problems. In April/May of 1825, when he was severely incapacitated with digestive troubles, his doctor prescribed – much to the composer’s chagrin – a strict dietary regimen. It wasn’t until the middle of the second month, when he was at the spa in Baden, that he was well enough to resume work on the three quartets commissioned by Prince Galitzin.
So great was the composer’s joy at finally abandoning the hateful eating regime, that he set to and composed an adagio entitled “Hymn of thanks from a convalescent to the deity, in the lydian mode”; it was to become the third movement of his a-Minor Quartet, Op. 132.
0:06 Assai sostenuto
10:34 Allegro ma non tanto
19:53 Molto Adagio
38:48 Alla marcia, assai vivace – Piu allegro – Presto &
41:07 Allegro appassionato
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The Art of Listening 