Thursday, November 13, 2014

List of Johann Baptist Vanhal's String Quartets

Johann Baptist Wanhal (May 12, 1739 – August 20, 1813), also spelled Waṅhal or in original Jan Krtitel Vanhal, believed to written more than seventy string quartets. Many also reported to be over 100+, but this figure may be exaggerated. Yet the complete list will probably never known. I try to find more information on this subject and only found this by the moment I write. Vanhal most popular works is his Op. 33 quartets, and  his late non-opus number for 'Hoffmeister' publisher, therefore known as Hoffmester quartets. In records, there are 12 Opuses with 6 string quartets, and then registered 6 quartets with no opus number. Total is 78 string quartets of Johann Baptist Vanhal.

Here are the known quartets :


6 String Quartets Op.1 - (1769 Paris)
No.1  in ?
No.2 in ?
No.3 in G major - [rec. by Kubin String Quartet]
No.4 in C minor (1769) - [rec. by Lotus String Quartet]
No.5 in ?
No. 6 in F major Bryan F6 (1771)

6 String Quartets Op.2 - (1769 Paris)
No.3 in B flat major - [rec. by Kubin String Quartet]

6 String Quartets Op.4 - (1779 Berlin)
No.1 in G major (1780)

6 String Quartets Op.6 (1771-2 Paris)
No.1 in F major Bryan F14 -  [rec. by Kubin String Quartet]
No.2 in  E major -  [rec. by Kubin String Quartet]
No.6 in B flat major -  [rec. by Kubin String Quartet]

6 String Quartets Op.9 - (1772 Paris)
No.1 in ?

6 String Quartets Op.11 (1782 Berlin)
Notes: Udgivet som " 6 quatuors concertants" (Berlin 1782) - også som op.26 (Paris).
No.1 in ?

6 String Quartets Op.13 (1773 Paris)
No.1 in E flat major -  [rec. by Kubin String Quartet] [Stamic Quartet]

6 String Quartets Op.21 (1775-9 Paris)
No.1 in ?

6 String Quartets Op.24 (1779 Paris)
No.1 in ?

6 String Quartets Op.28 (1778 Paris)
No.1 in ?

6 String Quartets Op.33 (1785 Wien)
No.2 in A Major -  [rec.by Lotus String Quartet, Camesina Quartet , Stamic Quartet]
No.3 in F Major - [rec. by Camesina Quartet]

6 Quatours, "Hoffmeister":
No. 2 in E-Flat Major  (1786) - [rec. by Lotus String Quartet, Camesina Quartet]

String Quartet in A major, Bryan A4
String Quartet in C major, Bryan C1
String Quartet in E-flat major
String Quartet in F major, Bryan F6
String Quartet in G major, W.Va:G8 (1780) - [rec. by Lotus String Quartet] [Stamic Quartet]

There were currently only four best known Vanhal recordings:
Stamic Quartet - Supraphone
Kubin Quartet - Multisonic
Camesina Quartet  - Musik Manufaktur Berlin (MMB)
Lotus String Quartet - CPO

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Vanhal : Four String Quartets - Lotus String Quartets (2014)

Johann Baptist Vanhal (May 12, 1739–August 20, 1813)
Performer : Lotus String Quartet
Label: CPO
Release: November 2014

As the string quartet communities geared up for an awake of Classical-era bombing, Johann Baptist Vanhal's is surely one of the composer to dig on. As mentioned in this blog-post before, Vanhal produced nonetheless than hundred string quartets. Those recording of Vanhal included the Kubik quartet for his early string quartets, Stamic Quartet and then the Camesina quartet for the late. In between of them, here Lotus string quartet, whose going to performed and recorded Vanhal four string quartets. The four quartets are two earlier works, in C minor Op.1/4 and in G Major. Then two late quartets, in A op.33/2 and in E flat 'Hoffmeister'. Dubiously the last two are already heard and recorded by Camesina quartet. Surely the Japan team has new interpretation and sounds for these new favorite quartets. Lastly, don't let this Haydenesque quartet unheard by you, grab the CD now.

Read the CD passage:
"Vanhal was one of the most productive composers of the eighteenth century, writing around 1,377 works; including sixty string quartets. The Lotus String Quartet, winners of the International Chamber Music Competition in Japan, interpret four of those quartets here. The press commented ‘Japanese perfection, coupled with German depth of feeling’."

Lotus String Quartet:

Sachiko Kobayashi, 1st Violin (Joannes Tononi 1699)
Mathias Neundorf, 2nd Violin (Andreas Guarnerius 1680)
Tomoko Yamasaki, Viola (Alfonso Della Corte 1870)
Chihiro Saito, Cello (Carlo F. Landolfi 1755)

See List of Vanhal's String Quartets

BUY IT HERE - AMAZON

Johann Baptist Vanhal: Four String Quartet
Lotus String Quartet

String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 1, No. 4
I. Allegro moderato
II. Adagio
III. Minuetto - Trio
IV. Allegro

String Quartet in G Major
I. Allegro molto moderato
II. Aria I-II
III. Adagio
IV. Allegro moderato

String Quartet in A Major, Op. 33, No. 2
I. Allegro moderato
II. Arietta I-II
III. Adagio sostenuto
IV. Rondo: Allegro molto

6 Quatours, "Hoffmeister": No. 2 in E-Flat Major
I. Allegro con fuoco
II. Adagio
III. Allegro


Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Bartolomeo Campagnoli Six String Quartets - Ensemble Symposium (2014)

Bartolomeo Campagnoli (1751 – 1827)
Six String Quartets
Performer: Ensemble Symposium
Label: Brilliant Classics
Release: October 2014
Buy it Here - AMAZON

Bartolomeo Campagnoli, mostly noted as student of Giuseppe Tartini and Pietro Nardini, was Italian violinist-composer that known for his violin concerto. With the resurrections of Italian Classical era composer in string quartet era, we got his six string quartets being recorded. Known for its budget recording, Brilliant Classics stand up for this task and the performer is Ensemble Symposium.

All six string quartets still in three movement form. Read the CD notes :

First recording of the string quartets by Campagnoli.

Bartolomeo Campagnoli (1751-1827) learned his trade with famous Italian musicians Tartini and Nardini. As a virtuoso on the violin he travelled Europe, where he held several important posts in Freising (Bavaria), Dresden and Stockholm, before settling as Kapellmeister of the famous Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig.

Campagnoli claimed for himself gthe german learnedness with Italian soulh, and his string quartets, the relatively new and ghoth genre of his days (with Joseph Haydn as the supreme creator and master), abound in lyrical melodies set into the firm musical structures of the first Viennese School.

Simone Laghi, leader of the Ensemble Symposium, did extensive research into the music of Campagnoli, and prepares its first Edition. Their masterful performances breath historical insight and pure delight in the musicfs originality. Extensive liner notes written by Simone Laghi.

String quartets came into their own in the latter half of the 18th century, and this brand new genre became an irresistible temptation to many composers, not least the young Italian Bartolomeo Campagnoli.

The six quartets featured on this disc are bursting with vitality and innovation, as Campagnoli’s penchant for playful melodic lines (especially in the first violin) comes thrillingly to the fore. The composer’s roots in northern Italy, particularly in Padua and Florence, were carried with him as he travelled around northern Europe, settling at various points in Stockholm, Dresden and
Hanover. This led to Campagnoli’s own assertion that he combined ‘German learnedness with Italian soul’, a truly pleasurable mixture perfectly suited to the string quartet genre.

Ensemble Symposium are experts in Campagnoli’s repertoire, with founder Simone Laghi currently preparing a critical edition of the composer’s six string quartets for publication in the USA. The group’s masterful and compelling performance is a testament to their extensive historical studies, as they strive to create a strong link between research and active interpretation, with
striking results.

Brilliant Classics 95037BR


Bartolomeo Campagnoli Six String Quartets:  - BUY IT HERE-

String Quartet No. 2 in B-Flat Major I. Allegro
II. Andante moderato
III. Rondò. Allegro

String Quartet No. 5 in F Major
I. Allegro spiritoso
II. Andante
III. Rondò. Allegro

String Quartet No. 6 in C Major
I. Variazioni. Largo
II. Allegro maestoso
III. Allegro moderato

String Quartet No. 4 in E-Flat Major
I. Allegro
II. Andantino
III. Allegro moderato

String Quartet No. 3 in G Major
I. Allegro non tanto
II. Larghetto
15 III. Presto assai

String Quartet No. 1 in D Major
I. Allegro
II. Andante con moto
III. Rondò. Allegro

Another Italian Classical Era string quartets - Bartolomeo Campagnoli


Friday, September 12, 2014

Top 20 Recommended Romantic String Quartet Composers You'll Need to Know

I always want to write this one down. List of important string quartet repertoire, which is almost identically as string quartet composers, that you will also extremely need to know. That's say, this list try to exclude the stable, canonic, over played, over recorded string quartet repertoire from mega-famous composers:

Joseph Hayden
Wolfgang A. Mozart
Ludwig van Beethoven
Frank Schubert
Johannes Brahms
Felix Mendelssohn
Antonin Dvorak
Ravel + Debussy
Bela Bartok
Dmitry Shostakovich
even Borodin and Tchaikovsky can be added here.

This list also exclude endless repertoire from the Classical era, which I already listed out top ten of important composer to listen HERE.


Top 20 Other Romantic String Quartet Composers You'll Need to Know
(in born-chronological order)

01. Luigi Cherubini (1760–1842)
Cherubini's six string quartets are legends. They are all super well written in the Romantic melodious way, despite the year where many still follows Haydn's Classical era string quartets. I listen to String Quartet no.3 in Dm and then no.6 in Am, these are quartet made in the height of Italian melodic. Shame that less quartet performed these works as it is as great as early Beethoven quartets.
Recommended works:
Melos String Quartet Cherubini String Quartets Nos 1-6
Quartteto David : Cherubini String Quartet Vol.1 - Vol.2 - Vol.3

02. George Onslow (1784–1853) 36
George Onslow is extremely forgotten these years. His string quartets, about 36 of them is even unheard anymore. Only few quartets are recorded as the time of writing.
Recommended works:
Mandelring Quartet: Onslow: String Quartets Op. 9 & 47
Mandelring Quartet: Onslow: String Quartets, Vol. 2 
Quatuor Ruggieri
Read also Article

03. Louis Spohr (1784–1859)
There are only one set of Louis Spohr's 37 string quartets, they are recorded by Marco Polo with several quartets playing. All quartet are recorded in a huge 17 volumes of them. Listen to the height of Mannheim school in chamber version. Spohr has a distinguished melody, all quartet share this similar style. They may sounds very close between each quartet, but then Spohr amazingly able to composed 37 quartet though.
Recommended works:
Spohr string quartets Vol.17
Read also full article

04. Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga (1806–1826)
Recently Juan Arriage got a booming recording of his enigmatic three string quartets. His brief existence on Earth, only 20 years old, may contribute to his fame. Before the quartet when viral in the future, familiar your self with his only three quartets, in D minor, A Major and E flat Major.
Recommended works:
Camerata Boccherini
Guarneri String Quartet


05. Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
Only one, String Quartet in Em. When it came from Verdi then it can't be missed. Indeed the quartet is quite celebrated as per now.
Recommended works:
Delme string quartet : Verdi and Strauss
Quartteto Italiano : Verdi, Donizetti and Cambini

06. Antonio Bazzini (1818-1897)
Famous only with his violin repertoire, Antonio Bazzini composed six string quartets full of melodious line. There are maybe only one recording of it, by the Venezia String Quartet

07. Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884)
Smetana two string quartets actually has stable inclusion of today's repertoire. Must listen.
Recommended works:
Stamitz Quartet Czech String Quartets

08. Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) 
Though popular, Camille Saint-Saens two string quartets are his lesser known works. Quartet no.2 in G in the third movement show some of the best four parts melodies conversation that a string quartets composer always trying to do.
Recommended works:
Castillon String Quartet

09. Max Bruch (1838–1920)
Always the same sentiment with Camille Saint-Saens, Max Bruch also composed two string quartets which is largely forgotten. Eclipsed by his Violin Concerto, Max Bruch quartet is dark in the first quartet in Em, then there is beautiful Quartet no.2 in E Major Op.10. Read also full article
Recommended works:
Mannheim String Quartet

10. Leoš Janáček (1854–1928)
Fortunately Leos Janacek repertoire is respectable and popular by now. Of course string quartet no.2 nickname "Intimate Letter" is the famous one, but I found the first quartet in is delightful as well.
Recommended works:
Panocha Quartet

11. Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev (1856–1915)
From Russian, Sergei Taneyev is the front of his contemporary about string quartets. Nine had been published by Sergei, with Quartet No.3 in Dm maybe his most popular one. The complete set only published by Northern Flower in 1977. That extremely negligence of this gems.
Recommended works:
The Taneyev Quartet: Taneyev Complete String Quartets
Carpe Diem String Quartet - article

12. Joseph Guy Ropartz (1865-1936)
Guy Ropartz is the other guy who perhaps never heard before. A French composer with six beautifully written quartets , mostly comprise selection of folk melody in it. Only one complete set of quartet being recorded by Quatuor Stanislav.

13. Jean Sibelius (1865–1957)
Big uncle Sibelius wrote three string quartet, one with nickname "Voice Intimae" is enjoying his status as 'alternative repertoire' to other over popular quartet such as Ravel or Brahms. Take another shot to listen to this technically beautiful quartet.
Recommended works:
Emerson String Quartet - Sibelius and Grieg
Tempera String Quartet

14. John Blackwood McEwen (1868–1948) - 17
UK composer Sir John Blackwood McEwen composed about seventeen quartets and only half being recorded in three volume of CD. You'll probably haven't heard about McEwen. These are UK best kept secret of their late Romantic era with many quartet push to the boundary of 20th century style. Chilingirian Quartet recorded his works. Read also : Review of McEwen string quartet

15. Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871–1927)
Another string quartet cycle you'll need to know is the six quartets of Wilhelm Stenhammar. Just jump to my favorite string quartet no.3 in F Major to examined how Wilhelm written developed nice melody into four part voices. The quartet has begin to enjoy some popularity with several recordings.
Recommended works:
Oslo String Quartet - CPO label
Copenhagen String Quartet
Other recordings and Further reading

16. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
Everything from R.V Williams sounds beautiful, so do the two quartets. Expected a thick UK landscape folk music in it.
Recommended works:
Maggini String Quartet

18. Nikolai Myaskovsky (1881–1950) 13
Mainly an opera and symphony composer, Nikolai Myaskovsky has a huge catalog of inspiring string quartets. Thirteen of them , all came with heavy weight melancholy composition. They will bring you to the first years of 20th century landscape. Nikolai Myaskovsky string quartets is a must-listen stuff if you are serious to delved into string quartet genre. His number #13 is the most popular work. Only published by Northern Flower by The Taneyev String Quartet, very rare stuff. Read also full article.

19. Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959)
From Latin America comes Heitor Villa-Lobos with his seventeen string quartets. They are far advance in the 20th century music, yet it is not atonal works, and still very 'listenable' to Romantic lover. Villa-Lobos quartets is quite popular by now.
Recommended works:
Danubius Complete Villa-Lobos String Quartets

20. Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959) - 10 only 8 survive
Only eight of his quartet survive out of ten. These eight series of Late Czech string quartet will bring you to the War times era.
Recommended works:
Panocha String Quartet

21. Vissarion Shebalin (1902–1963)
Student of Nicolai Myaskovsky, Vissarion Shebalin is another neglected Russian composer with serious string quartet. Nine of them, and the world only have one version of them. The Krasni string quartet recorded them all. There are several string quartet recorded partial of Shebalin quartet though. Enjoy the war times era , Stalinism feel on these quartets.



Sunday, August 31, 2014

Ole Bull Ovide Musin in America 1895

Ole Bull, 1810-1880 is now largely forgotten. This newspaper nickname him as "wizard from the North", as his country of origin from Norway suggest. Ole Bull came to America around 1850s and made quite a lot of interesting stories in America, beside giving concert and recitals, he also doing many things such as building a castle and so on. The Wikipedia article did write something about it. This article written on Los Angeles Herald, November 17th 1895, reminiscent on his journey in America. Gives bit of story about his son, Alexander Bull.

Ovide Musin, 1854-1929, was even lesser known violinist. Here bit of portion about his story.

Los Angeles Herald, November 17th 1895

text:
KEY AND BOW
ELLA A. GILES

Plans for an Ole Bull celebration at Minneapolis are awakening a great revival of interest in that famous master of the bow. A sufficient length of time has now passed since his death make all personal reminiscences of his various visits to America thoroughly appreciated by those who treasure them in their own minds. His name is surrounded with more and more musical charm; the light Of his genius glows more and more brightly. The time has come for a general ingathering and treasuring of all personal memories and facts in relation to the great "wizard of tbe north." At Madison, Wis., what is now owned by the state and known as the governor's executive residence, wss once the home of Ole Bull's American wife, Sara Thorpe.

... and so on.. please read the scan newspaper.

tag: historical violinist in newspaper, los angeles herald

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Manfredini Complete String Quartets - Quartetto Delfico

Vincenzo Manfredini (1737 – 1799) 
Performer: Quartetto Delfico
Label: Brilliant Classics
Release: June 2014

Vincenzo Manfredini (22 October 1737 – 5 or 16 August 1799) is Italian Classical era composer. Seeing his live timeline we got to know Vincenzo might have witness the birth of string quartet genre first hand, via Haydn invention. This set of quartets, six of them, come all in three movements form. Vincenzo learn from his more famous dad, Francesco Manfredini.

The quartets sounds like a marriage between late Baroque and Haydn. Quartetto Delfico recorded these quartets in a crispy string sounding around 6-8 September 2013, Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy. It is of course in historical instruments.


Vincenzo Manfredini (1737-1799)
Complete String Quartets
BUY IT HERE at AMAZON

01. String Quartet No. 5 in G Major: I. Allegro (03:31)
02. String Quartet No. 5 in G Major: II. Adagio (04:24)
03. String Quartet No. 5 in G Major: III. Allegretto (03:03)
04. String Quartet No. 2 in B-Flat Major: I. Andante (04:30)
05. String Quartet No. 2 in B-Flat Major: II. Allegro molto (03:08)
06. String Quartet No. 2 in B-Flat Major: III. Minuè (02:21)
07. String Quartet No. 4 in C Major: I. Allegro (05:25)
08. String Quartet No. 4 in C Major: II. Grave (04:42)
09. String Quartet No. 4 in C Major: III. Allegretto (03:20)
10. String Quartet No. 3 in A Major: I. Allegro (03:57)
11. String Quartet No. 3 in A Major: II. Adagio (07:35)
12. String Quartet No. 3 in A Major: III. Allegretto (02:16)
13. String Quartet No. 6 in F Major: I. Allegro con brio (04:33)
14. String Quartet No. 6 in F Major: II. Andante (05:46)
15. String Quartet No. 6 in F Major: III. Presto (02:33)
16. String Quartet No. 1 in D Major: I. Allegro brioso (03:42)
17. String Quartet No. 1 in D Major: II. Largo (04:55)
18. String Quartet No. 1 in D Major: III. Presto (02:29)












Quartetto Delfico :
Mauro Massa - violin
Gerardo Vitale - violin
Valeria Brunelli - cello
Andrea Vassalle - viola

Monday, June 2, 2014

Janos Vegh String Quartet - Authentic String Quartet (2014)

Janos Vegh (1845-1918)
Performer: Authentic String Quartet
Label: Hungaroton
Release: January 2014

A rather unknown composer from Hungary, János Végh jr. (1845-1918) is described as ranked composer whom was conservative Romanticism. Sounds great for a good old school Budapest Romanticism. Authentic String Quartet is the one credited for discovery of these works. There are three quartets: in F Major, G minor and D major.

A translations from the Hungaroton website:
"Végh was considered representative of a conservative romanticism. With Franz Liszt, he was good friends and transcribed some of his works for piano four hands - and vice versa. Végh was Vice President of the Budapest Academy of Music, under the presidency of Liszt. Since that was often traveling, Végh had de facto head of the Institute held. Many of his orchestral works, songs and piano pieces appeared in print. Not so the three newly discovered string that represents the Authentic Quartet on period instruments from the time of the music. Since its inception, the quartet has specialized in this form of re-discovery, re-performing and recording music of the 18th and 19th century from Central Europe and Hungary."

BUY IT HERE

Streichquartett F-Dur / String Quartet in F Major

1 1. Allegro moderato Start
2 2. Serenatina: Allegretto grazioso moderato Start
3 3. Andantino non troppo Start
4 4. Presto Start

Streichquartett g-moll / String Quartet in  G minor

5 1. Allegro moderato Start
6 2. Presto Start
7 3. Andante con moto Start
8 4. Finale: Allegro vivace Start

Streichquartett F-Dur / String Quartet in D Major

9 1. Grave - Allegro Start
10 2. Vivace Start
11 3. Andantino con moto Start
12 4. Allegro con spirito



Sunday, May 18, 2014

Forgotten String Quartet in hunt for the Greatest Forgotten String Quartets

If you are the reader of this blog I assume you also a keen follower on Forgotten String Quartets blog, who hunt and write for neglected string quartet pieces also. If you haven't now quick visit their blog. Their page has now open a voting game to hunt for the Greatest Forgotten String Quartets. Of course all most Beethoven,  Mozart and Haydn has been banned from the list. Instead we got to learn about Boccherini, Benjamin Franklin !, Pleyel, Saint-George, Niccola Paganini !!, Donizetti and so on.


Check their string quartet list and enjoy the discovery. If you stung by forgotten string quartet fever, please check our own recommendations here (posted 3 years ago....) and the bulky list of String Quartet Composers here.

Go to their voting page now!

UPDATED: I just learn that the voting game might be over already. The winner piece will get their concert by Goldner String Quartet and New Zealand String Quartet on the stage. Learn more about this on their discussion page HERE.

Forgotten String Quartets are regular read for our forgotten string quartet research, and I recommend this web whole heartily.


Monday, April 21, 2014

Gaetano Brunetti String Quartets - Carmen Veneris (2014)

Gaetano Brunetti (1744 - Madrid, 1798)
Performer: Carmen Veneris, Spain
Label: Lindoro
Release: June 2014

BUY IT HERE

Gaetano Brunetti's string quartets had been made into records by Schuppanzigh Cologne Quartett. Aside from those four quartets, we got now Carmen Veneris covering another four new quartets. Brunetti was Italian composer who gained his luck in the Spaniard monarchy. He was serving Charles III in 1767.

"Brunetti studied with violinist Carlo Tessarini, director of an academy in Fano, but believes further studies at Livorno with Nardini. It is a fact that when he arrived in Madrid with his father in 1762, he was already a skilled performer. He entered the service of Charles III in 1767 as a violinist of the Royal Chapel, going to be, three years later, the Prince of Asturias Professor. Also spent time in the service of the house of Alba, for which he wrote his Quartets Op.2, one of which opens the recording discussed.

To be crowned King Charles IV in 1788, Brunetti began his tenure as director of the Royal House, writing the Jason zarzuela and lots of orchestral works, including six symphonies, 34 overtures. The No. 33, called Il maniac trust is famous for the role of this character the cello. In chamber music was as relentless as his supposed adversary, Boccherini."
- Andrés Ruiz Tarazona  via Google translate

This made him the second composer who connected to the West, the other is Luigi Boccherini. His quartet also said to be connected with Joseph Haydn, whom believe to be his teacher also. From the booklet in Schuppanzigh CD, Brunetti's quartets included:
Six early quartets for Duke of Alba
Six quartet in 1774 op.2
Six short two movement quartets op.3
Six quartets in 1775 op.4
Six quartets in 1776 op.5
then composed sixteen quartets until 1792

The four quartets in Carmen Veneris repertoire are:

String Quartet in A minor op.2, n.4 L. 153 - Youtube sample
I. Allegro moderato 06:13
II. Minuetto. Trio 01:59
III. Andantino con un poco di motto 02:49
IV. Finale presto 01:31

String Quartet in G Major op.3, n.6 L. 161.
I. Andantino con variazioni 06:45
II. Allegro 03:48

String Quartet in B flat Major serie 8, n.7 L. 196.
I. Allegro maestoso 07:15
II. Largo sostenuto 06:08
III. Allegro non molto 05:13

String Quartet in D Major serie 8, n.10 L.199.
I. Allegro moderato 06:57
II. Largo cantabile 04:20
III. Allegro vivace 07:00


Carmen Veneris was founded in the year 2005 by Guillermo Martín and Pablo Almazán. They had been interested in searching Spanish Classical repertoire of 17th and 18th century. Carmen Veneris are:
Miguel Romero Crespo, violín
Rafael Muñoz-Torrero Santos, violín
Pablo Almazán Jaén, viola
Guillermo Martín Gámiz, violoncello
You can viewed their YOUTUBE Channel with excerpts of Gaetano Brunetti quartets.







Saturday, March 22, 2014

List of String Quartet Composers - The (Almost) Complete List Ever

 This LIST OF STRING QUARTET COMPOSER - THE (ALMOST) COMPLETE , is an additional list to Wikipedia article.  As you may found in my previous three articles on Additional List of String Quartet Composers (part 2, part 3), these are mean to provided more composers entry for Wikipedia's List of String Quartet Composers. There are actually hundred of names did not make it into Wikipedia list, which is why I ended up putting names after names into the list.

This list is works of my research, via online or by collecting string quartet recordings. I will by time to time try to edit and fix the format. However, I found this list already understandable enough. Please feel free to add in comments section, if you find missing composer, especially from Classical era. My previous list , I declared as supersede, replace by this one.

updated: Feb, 17th 2017 (major updated from list given by reader in commentary)

LIST OF STRING QUARTETS COMPOSERS AND WORKS

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Anton Reicha String Quartets Volume 2 - Kreutzer Quartet

Anton Reicha (1770-1836)
Performer: Kreutzer String Quartet , UK
Label: Toccata
Released: March 2014

Buy It Here - Amazon

The latest update on Kreutzer Quartet's project in recording Anton Reicha's string quartet is on the radar again. The volume 2 is up now to the online store, for pre-order. On this volume, the pieces will be:

String Quartet in C minor Op.49 No.1 (1803-4)
I. Allegro assai
II. Adagio, sempre piano e sostenuto
III. Menuetto (Allegro)
IV. Allegro

String Quartet in E flat Major, Op. 48 No.3 (1802-3)
I. Allegro moderato
II. Largo
III. Menuetto (Allegro assai)
IV. Allegro vivace

the official notes said,:

The Czech-born composer Anton Reicha (1770–1836) was an exact contemporary of Beethoven – and his close friend from their mid-teens: they showed each other their compositions-in-progress.

But although Reicha was closely associated with one of the best-known names in western culture, his own music has been grievously neglected: only his woodwind quintets have achieved any currency.

These quartets were composed in direct dialogue with Beethoven and his Op. 18 string quartets.

This is the second CD in an ambitious project record all of Reicha’s near-40 string quartets, which will reveal one of the most inventive and engaging spirits in classical music.

The Kreutzer Quartet has worked with David Matthews (TOCC0058 and TOCC0059) for many years now; many of his quartets were written with them in mind.


as we know, Toccata has released two of Opus 48 quartets, and if you haven't get their first volume, here's my review.


Anton Reicha Complete String Quartets , Volume Two

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Verhulst String Quartets Op 6 - Utrecht String Quartet

Johannes Verhulst (1816 – 1891)
Performer: Utrecht String Quartet
Label: MDG
Release: March 2014

Johannes Joseph Hermann Verhulst (The Hague, March 19, 1816 – Bloemendaal, January 17, 1891) in the cover said to be Netherland most influential during the nineteenth century. A quick search on wikipedia revealed he composed about three string quartets. Two of the quartet published as Op.6, which is the material we going to heard on this CD. The last quartet is in E flat major published as Op.21 in 1845. Verhulst most interesting fact is, he was scouted by Mendelssohn to study in Leipzig. Robets Schuman also told to be impressed by his composition.

Utrecht String Quartet continued to published unknown string quartet repertoire, especially from their home land, Netherland, and from the Romantic era. The quartet still consisted of Eeva Koskinen (1st v), Katherine Routley (2nd v), Joël Waterman (viola),  Sebastian Koloski (c).


Johannes Verhulst - String Quartets Op.6 No.1 & 2
Buy it HERE

String Quartet No.1 in D minor
1. Allegro non troppo
2. Adagio
3. Scherzo Presto scherzando
4. Finale Presto con fuoco

String Quartet No.2 in A flat major
5. Allegro risoluto
6. Adagio
7. Scherzo Presto sompre scherzando
8. Allegretto: Con moto giusto


Saturday, January 25, 2014

Zoltan Kodály String Quartet No.1 and No.2 - Dante Quartet (2014)

Zoltán Kodály (16 December 1882 – 6 March 1967)
Performer : Dante Quartet
Label : Hyperion
Released: February 2014

Although Zoltan Kodaly is a big name in Hungarian Classical music scenes, his string quartets is less known in public. Zoltan wrote two full string quartets in the spirit of late Romantic or nationalistic movements. The only recording I ever listen to is from the Roth Quartet perhaps recorded in the '50s!

A professional notes on this CD :

After the success of the First String Quartet at Kodály’s first public concert as a composer, on 17 March 1910, he wrote his String Quartet No 2, Op 10, between 1916 and 1918, a period when hostilities cut him off from fieldwork. The piece was dedicated to the Waldbauer-Kerpely Quartet who had premiered its predecessor as well as giving the first Hungarian performance of the Debussy Quartet that had been its model. Debussy’s influence can still be heard within the pentatonic harmonies of the Second Quartet, though they take on even more magyar tones. Introspective at first, the opening Allegro contrasts quickfire dissonance with more elegiac passages. Again the music has a discursive quality, though a freer modality now reigns. Dance rhythms quietly try to assert themselves within the Andante, though they are stymied by more yearning tones. Finally that energy is unleashed with a pizzicato jolt at the beginning of the final movement and a helter-skelter exchange of thematic material. After a moment of unearthly pause, complete with destabilizing glissandos, Kodály ends with a wild coda.

from notes by Gavin Plumley © 2014

The Dante Quartet, winners of the BBC Music Magazine Award for their album of Franck and Fauré, respond to this music with dancing energy and folkloric simplicity.


Zoltan Kodaly String Quartet No.1 and No.2 - BUY IT HERE - AMAZON

1. String Quartet No 1 Op 2 [41'18]
I Andante poco rubato – Allegro [11'54]
II Lento assai, tranquillo [12'52]
III Presto [4'05]
IV Allegro [12'27]

2. Intermezzo for string trio - Zoltán Kodály & Simon Perry (5:10)

3. Gavotte for 3 violins & cello - Zoltán Kodály & Simon Perry (2:34)

4. String Quartet No 2 Op 10 [17'31]
I Allegro [6'00]
II Andante, quasi recit. [4'52]
III Allegro giocoso [6'39]