The String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat major, Opus 130, by Ludwig van Beethoven was completed in November 1825 [1]. It was premiered in March 1826 by the Schuppanzigh Quartet and dedicated to Nikolai Galitzine on its publication in 1827. Its original form consisted of six movements totalling approximately 50 minutes; they are as follows:

1. Adagio, ma non troppo - Allegro
2. Presto
3. Andante con moto, ma non troppo. Poco scherzoso
4. Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai.
5. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo
6. Große Fuge: Overtura - Allegro - Fuga

Nomenclature: "danza tedesca" is a German dance, "Cavatina" a short and simple song, "Große Fuge" is "Great (or Grand) Fugue". For other terms, see Italian musical terms.

After the first performance of this work, mixed reactions and publisher suggestion convinced Beethoven to substitute a different final movement, much shorter and lighter than the enormous Große Fuge. This movement is marked:

6. Finale: Allegro

The original finale was then published separately under the title Große Fuge as Opus 133. Modern performances often follow the composer's original intentions, concluding with the fugue.

Beethoven was quite fond of fugues in his later years (others can be found in the final movements of the Hammerklavier Sonata, the Ninth Symphony, and the Piano Sonata No. 31 ).

The work is unusual among quartets in being written in six movements. The six follow the cycle of movements seen in the Ninth Symphony and occasionally elsewhere in Beethoven's work (opening, dance movement, slow movement, finale), except that the middle part of the cycle is repeated: opening, dance movement, slow movement, dance movement, slow movement, finale.