Sunday, November 22, 2015

List of Flute and String Quartet / Quintet Recordings of the Classical Era

Flute is arguably the next most popular instruments to paired to string quartet and quintet ensemble. The quartet for flute and string trio that formed flute quartet have wide repertoire, I believe much larger than, said, clarinet or oboe or other woodwinds instrument. The form seemingly enjoyed popularity in Classical Era. Apart from well known Mozart's four flute quartets, sadly lesser piece have been known to this category. Here are the list of most popular recording available in the market for the last 15 years that created flute quartet and flute quintet. I sort the list according to composer's lifetime, and some short commentary on notable piece.

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Quartets for Flute, Violin, Viola da Gamba, Bk 1 "Paris Quartets"
by Reinhard Goebel, Musica Antiqua Koln - BUY IT HERE

The Paris Quartets is the earliest flute quartet that stand out from the crowd. The piece was created in the late Baroque era, one can link this to earliest form of string quartet in overall. 


  



Johann Joachim Quantz (1697–1773): Six Flute Quartets 2004
by Mary Oleskiewicz (baroque flute after Quantz), Elizabeth Field (baroque violin), Daniel Elyar (baroque viola), Stephanie Vial (baroque cello), David Schulenberg (harpsichord). - BUY IT HERE

J.J. Quantz was one of most important composer in flute repertoire. These are his flute chamber works where it was composed for Flute, violin, viola, cello and also harpsichord.



Louis-Gabriel Guillemain (1705 –1770)
Birth Of The String Quartet, Vol. 2 - The Sound Of The 18th Century
by Casal Quartett - BUY IT HERE
Guillemain composed six flute quartets op.12, Six sonates en quatuors ou conversations galantes, for flute, violin, bass viol, and basso continuo (1743) This recording performed in string quartet version.





Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714 – 1788): 3 Flute Quartets CD
by Jean-Philippe Vasseur (viola) , Laure Colladant (Piano), Antoine Ladrette (Cello), Philippe Allain-Dupre (Flute)