James Tobin ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

>...  There are few octets in the repertoire, but Mendelssohn's is
>brilliant, and has some of the same kind of "gossamer" lightness as
>passages in the Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, which I don't think
>the work of any other composer has come close to resembling.

I'd have agreed with you until a week ago, when I was reminded (by a
scintillating performance) that the scherzo of Beethoven's Harp quartet
(Op.74) has undoubted hints in this direction.

Deryk Barker
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