His second String Quartet, in D minor, written in 1882–83 in defiance of his doctor's orders to refrain from all musical activity, was composed in short snatches, "a swirl of music of a person who has lost his hearing."
Hans anden strygerkvartet i d-mol, skrevet i 1882-83 til trods for sin læges ordre til at afholde sig fra al musikalsk aktivitet, blev komponeret i korte brudstykker som "en hvirvel af musik af en person, der har mistet sin hørelse".