Joseph Haydn may be remembered as the man behind some of our most serious musical genres, but he also had a sense of humor, which often manifested itself in his music. Classical Tulsa host Jason Heilman introduces Haydn’s String Quartet Op. 33, No. 2 in E flat, Hob.III:38, – the "Joke" quartet – in 10 minutes or less.

It’s Ludwig van Beethoven's final completed work, but with its economical form and an optimistic tone that borders on cheerfulness, it stands apart from his other late quartets: Classical Tulsa host Jason Heilman introduces Beethoven’s surprising String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op. 135, in 10 minutes or less. You can hear the Rolston Quartet perform the piece as part of Chamber Music Tulsa's 2022-23 season on February 19 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

After coming home from the New World, Antonin Dvořák began to embrace Czech folk music and culture unapologetically in his final works. But in one of his last string quartets, he seems to be saying goodbye to the Viennese classicism he had long sought to emulate: Classical Tulsa host Jason Heilman introduces Dvorak's String Quartet No. 13 in G major, Op. 106, in 10 minutes or less. You can hear the Maxwell Quartet perform this piece as part of Chamber Music Tulsa's 2022-23 season at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center on November 13.

Just a couple of years before he left for the New World, Czech composer Antonín Dvořák was asked to capitalize on the success of one of his chamber pieces with another: Classical Tulsa host Jason Heilman introduces Dvořák's Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat, Op. 87, in 10 minutes or less. You can hear the Laredo-Robinson-Ngwenyama-Polonsky Quartet perform this piece as part of Chamber Music Tulsa's 2022-23 season at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center on October 16.

When he was just eighteen, Felix Mendelssohn created a stunningly mature string quartet that could stand alongside Beethoven’s own late masterpieces in the genre: Classical Tulsa host Jason Heilman introduces Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13, in 10 minutes or less. You can hear the Viano String Quartet perform the piece to launch Chamber Music Tulsa's 2022-23 season at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center on September 17th.

As one of Ludwig van Beethoven's final works, it initially divided opinion, with some contemporaries calling it unplayable and others hailing it as the pinnacle of the genre: Classical Tulsa host Jason Heilman introduces Beethoven's monumental String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, opus 131, in 10 minutes or less. You can hear the Verona Quartet perform the piece as part of Chamber Music Tulsa's 2021-22 season on April 10th at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

We'll never know why Franz Schubert suddenly stopped working on an ambitious new string quartet nearly 8 years before his untimely death, but its one finished movement went on to become a concert hall staple: Classical Tulsa host Jason Heilman introduces Schubert's String Quartet Movement in C minor, D.703, in 10 minutes or less. You can hear the Verona Quartet perform the piece as part of Chamber Music Tulsa's 2021-22 season on April 9th and 10th.

Whenever he got into financial trouble, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart turned to the piano trio, which he could easily sell to amateurs for some quick cash, if he could make the music simple enough: Classical Tulsa host Jason Heilman introduces Mozart's Piano Trio in C major, K.548, in 10 minutes or less. You can hear the ATOS Trio perform this piece as part of Chamber Music Tulsa's 2021-22 season on March 26.

It started out as a celebration of France’s musical past, but it became a very personal tribute to seven close friends who perished in World War I: Classical Tulsa host Jason Heilman introduces Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin in 10 minutes or less. You can hear Imani Winds perform this piece as part of Chamber Music Tulsa's 2021-22 season on March 12.

It was his instrumental requiem for his sister which ultimately became his own: Jason Heilman introduces Felix Mendelssohn's String Quartet in F minor, Op. 80.