Thursday, March 12, 2015

Joachim Raff - String Quartets Nos 2,3,4,8 - Mannheimer String Quartet (2015)

Composer: Joachim Raff (1822-1882)
Performer: Mannheimer String Quartet
Label: CPO
Release: March 2015

Although we already exposed to Raff's string quartet via the Quartetto Milano records, here comes one more recording of Raff. The highlight of this CD is the quartet No.8. As we know, Joachim Raff write a three part string quartet "sub cycle" in his late quartets, starting with quartet No.6 in C minor "Suite in Ancient Style", No.7 in D minor "Die schöne Müllerin / The Maid of the Mill", and No.8 in "Suite in Canon Form". This CD is one of known recording for quartet Nos 8. The works is a giant composition creativeness by Raff.

Joachim Raff himself is unique character. He was living exactly in the height of Romantic era, having full access to Liszt as his teacher, then most probably Clara Schumann all the way to Richard Strauss. His eight string quartets are all ambitious in composition.

Joachim Raff: String Quartets Nos. 2, 3, 4 & 8
Mannheimer Streichquartett - CPO
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Tracklist:

DISC 1
1. String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 90: I. Rasch, jedoch ruhig 15:02
2. String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 90: II. Rasch 07:05
3. String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 90: III. Langsam, doch nicht schleppend 09:28
4. String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 90: IV. Rasch 09:08

5. String Quartet No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 136: I. Allegro 12:09
6. String Quartet No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 136: II. Allegro con moto 05:08
7. String Quartet No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 136: III. Andante con moto 10:17
8. String Quartet No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 136: IV. Allegro con spirito 06:03


DISC 2

1. String Quartet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 137: I. Allegro patetico 09:46
2. String Quartet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 137: II. Allegro, non troppo vivo, quasi allegretto 03:48
3. String Quartet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 137: III. Andante 09:56
4. String Quartet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 137: IV. Finale: Presto  06:58

"Suite in Canonic Form"
5. String Quartet No. 8 in C Major, Op. 192, No. 3,  I. Marsch: Allegro 04:31
6. String Quartet No. 8 in C Major, Op. 192, No. 3, II. Sarabande: Andante, moderato assai 02:19
7. String Quartet No. 8 in C Major, Op. 192, No. 3, III. Capriccio: Vivace 02:28
8. String Quartet No. 8 in C Major, Op. 192, No. 3, IV. Arie (Doppelkanon): Quasi larghetto 04:43
9. String Quartet No. 8 in C Major, Op. 192, No. 3, V. Gavotte und Musette: Allegro 02:06
10. String Quartet No. 8 in C Major, Op. 192, No. 3, VI. Menuett: Allegro molto 03:32
11. String Quartet No. 8 in C Major, Op. 192, No. 3, VII. Gigue: Allegro 02:58