String Quartet No. 15 in A minor Opus 132 by Ludwig van Beethoven

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String Quartet No. 15 in A minor Opus 132 by Ludwig van Beethoven

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By Abil Kile Posted on Nov 15, 2025

In Category - History

Authors: Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827 Published By : Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827

Book Language: English

Okay, hear me out. This isn't just another classical music piece. It's Beethoven's raw, unfiltered diary from a time when he was sick, isolated, and wrestling with his own mortality. The 'plot twist'? The famous 'Holy Song of Thanksgiving' movement, where he writes music that feels like a man pulling himself out of despair, note by painful note. It starts in shadows, wrestles with the divine, and ends somewhere between exhaustion and hard-won peace. Forget what you know about quartets; this is a 45-minute journey into a genius's soul at its most vulnerable. It's heavy, but you won't forget it.

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3. The Content must be used solely for a non-commercial purpose. Although this blanket permission to reproduce the Content is given freely such that no special permission is required, the Bahá’í International Community retains full copyright protection for all Content included at this Site under all applicable national and international laws. For permission to publish, transmit, display or otherwise use the Content for any commercial purpose, please contact us (http://reference.bahai.org/en/contact.html). CONTENTS Baha’i Terms of Use References to the Qur’án LAWḤ-I-KARMIL (Tablet of Carmel) LAWḤ-I-AQDAS (The Most Holy Tablet) BISHÁRÁT (Glad-Tidings) TARAZÁT (Ornaments) TAJALLÍYÁT (Effulgences) KALÍMÁT-I-FIRDAWSÍYYIH (Words of Paradise) LAWḤ-I-DUNYÁ (Tablet of the World) ISHRÁQÁT (Splendours) LAWḤ-I-HIKMAT (Tablet of Wisdom) ASL-I-KULLU’L-KHAYR (Words of Wisdom) LAWḤ-I-MAQSÚD (Tablet of Maqsúd) SÚRIY-I-VAFÁ (Tablet to Vafá) LAWḤ-I-SÍYYID-I-MIHDÍY-I-DAHÁJÍ (Tablet to Siyyid Mihdíy-i-Dahájí) LAWḤ-I-BURHÁN (Tablet of the Proof) KITÁB-I-‘AHD (Book of the Covenant) LAWḤ-I-ARD-I-BÁ (Tablet of the Land of Bá) EXCERPTS FROM OTHER TABLETS “GOD testifieth that there is none other God but...” “ALL praise be to Thee, O my God, inasmuch as Thou...” “O ḤUSAYN! God grant thou shalt ever be bright and...” “THIS is a Tablet which the Lord of all being hath sent...” “O FRIEND! In the Bayán We directed everyone in this...” “O JAVÁD! Such is the greatness of this Day that the Hour...” “WE make mention of him who hath been attracted by Our...” “O THOU who bearest My Name, Júd [Bounty]! Upon...” “O ḤAYDAR! This Wronged One hath heard thy voice...” “BY the righteousness of God! The Mother Book is made...” “O MUḤAMMAD ḤUSAYN! Be thou prepared to receive the...” “O MY handmaiden and My leaf! Rejoice with great joy...” “AT one time this sublime Word was heard from the...” “THIS is a Tablet sent down by the All-Merciful from the...” “O MY handmaiden, O My leaf! Render thou thanks unto...” “O HANDMAID of God! Hearken unto the Voice of the...” “FIX your gaze upon wisdom in all things, for it is an...” “THIS Wronged One doth mention him who hath set his...” “HE Who leadeth to true victory is come. By the righteousness...” “THIS is a Tablet sent down by the Lord of mercy that the...” “WE desire to mention him who hath set his face towards...” “GIVE ear unto that which the Spirit imparteth unto thee from...” “THIS Wronged One hath perused thy letter in the Most...” REFERENCES TO THE QUR’ÁN In footnotes referring to the Qur’án the súrihs have been numbered according to the original, whereas the verse numbers are those in Rodwell’s translation which differ sometimes from those of the Arabic. LAWḤ-I-KARMIL (TABLET OF CARMEL) ALL glory be to this Day, the Day in which the fragrances of mercy have been wafted over all created things, a Day so blest that past ages and centuries can never hope to rival it, a Day in which the countenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned towards His holy seat. Thereupon the voices of all created things, and beyond them those of the Concourse on High, were heard calling aloud: ‘Haste thee, O Carmel, for lo, the light of the countenance of God, the Ruler of the Kingdom of Names and Fashioner of the heavens, hath been lifted upon thee.’ Seized with transports of joy, and raising high her voice, she thus exclaimed: ‘May my life be a sacrifice to Thee, inasmuch as Thou hast fixed Thy gaze upon me, hast bestowed upon me Thy bounty, and hast directed towards me Thy steps. Separation from Thee, O Thou Source of everlasting life, hath well nigh consumed me, and my remoteness from Thy presence hath burned away my soul. All...

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Let's be clear: this isn't a book with characters and chapters, but it tells one of the most powerful stories I've ever experienced. String Quartet No. 15 is Beethoven's late-period masterpiece, written after a serious illness. You can trace the narrative arc in the music itself.

The Story

The first movement feels like a struggle, full of questioning and unease. Then comes the heart of it all: the third movement, which Beethoven titled "Holy Song of Thanksgiving from a Convalescent to the Divinity." This is where the story turns. It's slow, profound, and built in sections that shift from a fragile, hymn-like gratitude to moments of renewed strength and back again. It's the sound of someone finding light after being very, very lost. The final movements that follow feel like a return to the world—not with a bang, but with a complex, sometimes weary, acceptance.

Why You Should Listen To It

This gets under your skin because it's so human. You're not just hearing beautiful music; you're eavesdropping on a private conversation between a man, his pain, and his hope. There's no hero's journey here, just a real, grueling crawl toward peace. The "Holy Song" movement alone is worth the price of admission. It’s not always easy to listen to—it demands your attention—but the emotional payoff is immense.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who believes art can explore the deepest parts of the human experience. If you like stories about resilience, or if you've ever found comfort in quiet, introspective moments, this quartet will speak to you. Don't put it on as background music. Sit down, close your eyes, and let it tell you its story. You might just hear a bit of your own in there, too.

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