Raff’s String Quartet No. 1 in D minor Op. 77, composed in 1855, is a mid-Romantic era quartet that bridges the gap between the traditions of Beethoven and the progressiveness of Liszt and Wagner.

Composed while Raff was serving as Franz Liszt’s assistant in Weimar, the quartet served as a “brilliant farewell” to the city’s art scene before Raff moved to Wiesbaden.

Some eighteen years elapsed between Raff’s first counted String Quartet op. 77 and his Quartets Nos. 6–8 op. 192, combined as one work.

As such, Raff parted with the weighty single opus in quartet composition – without, however, sacrificing musical quality.

Consisting of four movements:

1. Mäßig schnell, ruhig, breit

2. Sehr lustig, möglich rasch

3. Mäßig langsam, getragen

4. Rasch