1. Waiting (1)
2 Dancing (1)
3 Singing
4 Dancing (2)
5 Waiting (2)
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Alec Roth wrote his 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartets, and had them premiered by the Allegri String Quartet, between 2010 and 2013. As far as the partial stimulus for this quartet is concerned Roth explained.
"I first heard the group (Allegri Quartet) ‘live’ on the 6th of May 2009, in an all-Haydn concert given in the lovely surroundings of St Brandon’s Church, Brancepeth, the musical experience enhanced by the view through the clear glass windows of the trees dancing along in the late evening sunlight. The programme included Haydn’s quartet opus 71 No.2. In its first movement Allegro the instruments enter in quick succession around the circle, initiated by the cello’s bold two-note motif. This is such a striking idea. What would happen if the cello were to send round a whole barrage of such motifs. Here, thanks to Papa Haydn, I was gifted the idea for what became the fourth movement of my Quartet No.2."
- Alec Roth -
After blogging my response to Alec Roth's excellent 3rd Quartet 'Autumnal' I had to review this but 2nd Quartet as I enjoy it greatly too.
As with the 3rd quartet, Roth names his movements. Thus the 1st movement is called “Waiting” and it begins with lots of promise and rhtyhmic harmonics. Roth has stated that he was influenced by a Fanthorpe poem regarding clocks and the passage of time. The incessant rhythmic movement here is reminiscent of Glass or Reich with the addition of a simple motif and one might have the feeling of sitting in a busy train station watching and listening to the trains pass or the wind blowing cherry blossom off the trees. Roth describes the 2nd movement (Dance) as “a quirky dance” and it's a delight. Another simple motif is played on open strings and in pizzicato. Some Col Legno 'whoops' enhance the music even further adding lovely texture and a Celtic, rustic feel to proceedings. After this brief but delicious movement we get something a little more melancholy and agitated in the form of a 3rd movement using pedal notes and a drawn out melody in octaves to create a droning, dissonant bagpipe-like continuo. Interestingly Roth names this 'Singing' yet it doesn't feel like that. The 4th movement is a second "Dance' that's more aggressive. As Roth explained earlier, its catchy two-note motif is passed around the quartet after it's initial appearance on the cello. I hear the travelling quality of the music again and there's a definite Ireland-style atmosphere here. The punchy, strong music surprises as it stops and starts a few times. This is my favourite movement of this fine work (even more so than that pizzi-fest of a 2nd movement). The final movement brings forth a new soundscape. On 'the second Waiting' the music begins on the cello and the harmonies are almost dreamy, reflective, slightly melancholy and touching. Some pizzicato notes are heard on top of tender harmonies and progressions as the music pulses softly. The earlier drones return and it all ends in the upper register.
It's a fine work and Roth strangely uses virtually no sharps or flats in this moody piece. I suspect that what draws me to this piece are the moods it conjures in yoour imagination. Each movement acts as a single frame from an ever-changing storyboard. I also respond extremely well to music with train-like rhythms (perhaps that's why I love Dvorak so much - his music is loaded with examples of it). Whatever, this is a thoroughly engaging piece and if you admire some of Glass or Reich's best works but like a bit more melody and meat on the bones then you'll love this. Heavily recommended.
There's only one recording but thankfully it's from the quartet who premiered the work, the Allegri Quartet, and they know how to move through the gears in this music. Their textures are rich, colours imaginative and playing beautifully balanced. Pizzicato are neither timid or OTT and they really bring out the moods elegantly throughout. Even with multiple recodings it would be a performance difficult to better. Buy the disc. Roth's quartets need to be heard more. I love them all (but especially the 3rd) and find them catovating and hypnotic.
www.talkclassical.com
2 Dancing (1)
3 Singing
4 Dancing (2)
5 Waiting (2)
Alec Roth wrote his 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartets, and had them premiered by the Allegri String Quartet, between 2010 and 2013. As far as the partial stimulus for this quartet is concerned Roth explained.
"I first heard the group (Allegri Quartet) ‘live’ on the 6th of May 2009, in an all-Haydn concert given in the lovely surroundings of St Brandon’s Church, Brancepeth, the musical experience enhanced by the view through the clear glass windows of the trees dancing along in the late evening sunlight. The programme included Haydn’s quartet opus 71 No.2. In its first movement Allegro the instruments enter in quick succession around the circle, initiated by the cello’s bold two-note motif. This is such a striking idea. What would happen if the cello were to send round a whole barrage of such motifs. Here, thanks to Papa Haydn, I was gifted the idea for what became the fourth movement of my Quartet No.2."
- Alec Roth -
After blogging my response to Alec Roth's excellent 3rd Quartet 'Autumnal' I had to review this but 2nd Quartet as I enjoy it greatly too.
As with the 3rd quartet, Roth names his movements. Thus the 1st movement is called “Waiting” and it begins with lots of promise and rhtyhmic harmonics. Roth has stated that he was influenced by a Fanthorpe poem regarding clocks and the passage of time. The incessant rhythmic movement here is reminiscent of Glass or Reich with the addition of a simple motif and one might have the feeling of sitting in a busy train station watching and listening to the trains pass or the wind blowing cherry blossom off the trees. Roth describes the 2nd movement (Dance) as “a quirky dance” and it's a delight. Another simple motif is played on open strings and in pizzicato. Some Col Legno 'whoops' enhance the music even further adding lovely texture and a Celtic, rustic feel to proceedings. After this brief but delicious movement we get something a little more melancholy and agitated in the form of a 3rd movement using pedal notes and a drawn out melody in octaves to create a droning, dissonant bagpipe-like continuo. Interestingly Roth names this 'Singing' yet it doesn't feel like that. The 4th movement is a second "Dance' that's more aggressive. As Roth explained earlier, its catchy two-note motif is passed around the quartet after it's initial appearance on the cello. I hear the travelling quality of the music again and there's a definite Ireland-style atmosphere here. The punchy, strong music surprises as it stops and starts a few times. This is my favourite movement of this fine work (even more so than that pizzi-fest of a 2nd movement). The final movement brings forth a new soundscape. On 'the second Waiting' the music begins on the cello and the harmonies are almost dreamy, reflective, slightly melancholy and touching. Some pizzicato notes are heard on top of tender harmonies and progressions as the music pulses softly. The earlier drones return and it all ends in the upper register.
It's a fine work and Roth strangely uses virtually no sharps or flats in this moody piece. I suspect that what draws me to this piece are the moods it conjures in yoour imagination. Each movement acts as a single frame from an ever-changing storyboard. I also respond extremely well to music with train-like rhythms (perhaps that's why I love Dvorak so much - his music is loaded with examples of it). Whatever, this is a thoroughly engaging piece and if you admire some of Glass or Reich's best works but like a bit more melody and meat on the bones then you'll love this. Heavily recommended.
There's only one recording but thankfully it's from the quartet who premiered the work, the Allegri Quartet, and they know how to move through the gears in this music. Their textures are rich, colours imaginative and playing beautifully balanced. Pizzicato are neither timid or OTT and they really bring out the moods elegantly throughout. Even with multiple recodings it would be a performance difficult to better. Buy the disc. Roth's quartets need to be heard more. I love them all (but especially the 3rd) and find them catovating and hypnotic.
Merl's Blogged String Quartet and String Quintet...
As some of you are aware I started blogging my recommended string quartet recordings a while back as I didn't want to lose them in the Weekly String Quartet thread. However, blogging on TC has many limitations and there was no way to link all my posts in one place without the page disappearing...
www.talkclassical.com
