3 Things to Know About Beethoven's 'Harp' Quartet

The nickname comes from pizzicato arpeggios in the first movement These plucked string passages genuinely sound like a harp, which is why the quartet is called the ‘Harp’ quartet.

It is Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat major, Op. 74 The official title is String Quartet No. 10, and the ‘Harp’ nickname is not Beethoven’s own—it was added later by listeners.

The harp-like effect is unique to the first movement Only the opening movement features these pizzicato arpeggios; the rest of the quartet does not imitate a harp.