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Debussy: String Quartet
String quartet · about 24–27 minutes

Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

Colourful and very demanding for all four players, with tricky rhythms, fast pizzicato and constant changes of sound. For strong, experienced groups.
Very demanding
For 2 violins, viola and cello
Players
2 violins, viola and cello
Difficulty
Very demanding, judged by the hardest part
Length
About 24–27 minutes
Written
1892–93
Also known as
Op. 10 · Quartet in G minor
Free parts
Score and parts on IMSLP

Part by part

The piece is rated by its hardest part. Here is how each part compares, so a group can see who will need to practise most.
Violin 1
Fast, rhythmically tricky lines in the outer movements, high passages and big climaxes in the finale. The most demanding part.
Very demanding
Violin 2
Lots of fast pizzicato and cross-rhythms in the scherzo, and busy inner writing elsewhere. Needs a confident sense of rhythm.
Advanced
Viola
Has the repeating theme the scherzo is built on, and an exposed, chant-like melody in the slow movement.
Advanced
Cello
Bass and rhythm in the fast movements, with tricky pizzicato in the scherzo and a share of the melody in the quieter movements.
Advanced

The movements

I. Animé et très décidé. Starts with the motto theme that returns throughout. Lively and decisive; the rhythms shift often, so count carefully.
II. Assez vif et bien rythmé. The viola keeps repeating a figure made from the motto while the other three pluck around it. Great fun once it locks together.
III. Andantino, doucement expressif. Slow, soft and lyrical, with a chant-like viola melody. Needs very quiet, even playing.
IV. Très modéré. A slow introduction that transforms the motto, then a fast main section marked “Très mouvementé et avec passion”. The longest movement and the hardest to put together.

Reading it together for the first time

Start with the Andantino: it is the slowest movement and shows how much soft colour the piece needs.
Read the scherzo slowly at first and count out loud if needed; the pizzicato only works when everyone is exactly together.
The French tempo markings change often. Have someone translate them before you start so nobody is caught out.
IMSLP has free scores and parts, including the first edition (Durand, 1894). The whole quartet takes about 25 minutes, but plan a full session for the first read.

About the piece

Debussy wrote his only string quartet in 1892–93. He had planned two but finished just one. It is also the only work of his published with an opus number. The Ysaÿe Quartet gave the first performance at a Société Nationale concert in Paris on December 29, 1893, and Durand published it in 1894.
The quartet is dedicated to the Ysaÿe Quartet. Debussy had meant to dedicate it to Ernest Chausson, but Chausson had reservations about it. The opening theme comes back, transformed, in the later movements, so the four movements feel like one piece. Listeners at the premiere were divided, and Ravel later modelled his own quartet on this one.

Hear it live

No performances in New York, Boston, the Bay Area or Los Angeles on our listings right now. We update them every week.

What to play next

Ravel · String Quartet in F
The natural pair: Ravel modelled his quartet on this one. Same level.
Very demanding
Borodin · String Quartet No. 2 in D
An easier, very melodic way in for the same group.
Advanced
Debussy · Violin Sonata in G minor
Debussy for violin and piano, in the same key: a chance for the first violinist to go further.
Very demanding
Debussy · Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp
Debussy again, a chance for the violist with flute and harp.
Very demanding
More in the full list by difficulty, or browse:
String quartetsViolinViolaCello

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Levels are Rhapsodate’s own rough guide, not an exam grade. Facts checked 2026-10-03 against:
IMSLP: movements, dedication, first performance, first edition (Durand, 1894), free parts
Wikipedia: composition, Chausson, reception, Ravel’s quartet
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: only opus number, cyclic form, the scherzo, finale marking, length
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