I. Allegro
II. Andante molto
III. Presto
IV. Allegro
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Sibelius was in his mid-twenties when he wrote his B-flat String Quartet and he worked on it from the summer of 1889 to September 1890. Sibelius commentators have speculated that the Adagio in D minor (JS 12) may have been intended as a slow movement for the Op.4 quartet and the Allegretto in B-flat major (without a catalogue number) may be an abandoned sketch for the quartet, too but this is conjecture. What we do know is that it was never published in his lifetime and there is some anecdotal evidence that he even discouraged its performance, even though many deemed it a very fine work. The piece was started and finished in Loviisa in 1889 (with a trip to Berlin interrupting it's writing).
The Op.4 Quartet was premiered on the 13th October, 1890 at the Helsinki Music Institute (now the Sibelius Academy) with Norwegian composer Johan Halvorsen playing the first violin. 4 years after writing the quartet, Sibelius arranged the 3rd movement for string orchestra and called it 'Presto' (or 'Scherzo' ). That version received its premiere in February 1894. It continues to be the more frequently performed and recorded version of this work (but not the best, IMO).
The 1st movement, Allegro, has some superb textures and is relaxed and almost pastoral. The music here reminds me of Dvorak but with Sibelius' cooler harmonies. Melodically this is a fairly folk-like movement. As I said, I'm not sure it's particularly Finnish in atmosphere but what a great movement this is. The 2nd movement, Andante molto starts with a degree of melancholy until cheered up by a bright, sunny theme with Sibelian vitality and develops into a set of variations. Sibelius' use of harmony is particularly interesting, here reinforcing the theme. Sibelius uses one variation very effectively, developing a rather trippy atmosphere. The following Presto gesticulate wildly as it bustles athletically along until we reach a rather cold and melancholy trio . The Allegro finale starts boldly and nervously with its energetic theme and as the music continues Sibelius injects more warmth into proceedings until the quartet concludes calmly.
There are only 2 recordings of this piece. The Sibelius Academy Quartet made the world premiere recording of the quartet in 1984. It's a decent effort too with the ensemble's clean lines and serious approach very much to the fore. The recording is clear but the phrasing isn't as imaginative or as powerful as this music demands but for a good way to get to know the piece this is a recommendable release.
We had to wait another 20 years for the next recording and that's courtesy of the
Tempera Quartet. The Tempera are more reactive to the dynamic contrasts of this work. They opt for rhythmic drive, bold accenting and a more vigorous approach and, although they might not be too subtle, on occasion, this lends the music greater urgency. This boldness works especially well in the op.4 (less so in the Voces Intimae op.56) and means that this is the account of this work to own. BIS sound is full and clear.
If you enjoy Sibelius' op.56 work you really should hear this fine earlier quartet. It's a work that repays your faith in it.
www.talkclassical.com
II. Andante molto
III. Presto
IV. Allegro
Sibelius was in his mid-twenties when he wrote his B-flat String Quartet and he worked on it from the summer of 1889 to September 1890. Sibelius commentators have speculated that the Adagio in D minor (JS 12) may have been intended as a slow movement for the Op.4 quartet and the Allegretto in B-flat major (without a catalogue number) may be an abandoned sketch for the quartet, too but this is conjecture. What we do know is that it was never published in his lifetime and there is some anecdotal evidence that he even discouraged its performance, even though many deemed it a very fine work. The piece was started and finished in Loviisa in 1889 (with a trip to Berlin interrupting it's writing).
The Op.4 Quartet was premiered on the 13th October, 1890 at the Helsinki Music Institute (now the Sibelius Academy) with Norwegian composer Johan Halvorsen playing the first violin. 4 years after writing the quartet, Sibelius arranged the 3rd movement for string orchestra and called it 'Presto' (or 'Scherzo' ). That version received its premiere in February 1894. It continues to be the more frequently performed and recorded version of this work (but not the best, IMO).
The 1st movement, Allegro, has some superb textures and is relaxed and almost pastoral. The music here reminds me of Dvorak but with Sibelius' cooler harmonies. Melodically this is a fairly folk-like movement. As I said, I'm not sure it's particularly Finnish in atmosphere but what a great movement this is. The 2nd movement, Andante molto starts with a degree of melancholy until cheered up by a bright, sunny theme with Sibelian vitality and develops into a set of variations. Sibelius' use of harmony is particularly interesting, here reinforcing the theme. Sibelius uses one variation very effectively, developing a rather trippy atmosphere. The following Presto gesticulate wildly as it bustles athletically along until we reach a rather cold and melancholy trio . The Allegro finale starts boldly and nervously with its energetic theme and as the music continues Sibelius injects more warmth into proceedings until the quartet concludes calmly.
There are only 2 recordings of this piece. The Sibelius Academy Quartet made the world premiere recording of the quartet in 1984. It's a decent effort too with the ensemble's clean lines and serious approach very much to the fore. The recording is clear but the phrasing isn't as imaginative or as powerful as this music demands but for a good way to get to know the piece this is a recommendable release.
We had to wait another 20 years for the next recording and that's courtesy of the
Tempera Quartet. The Tempera are more reactive to the dynamic contrasts of this work. They opt for rhythmic drive, bold accenting and a more vigorous approach and, although they might not be too subtle, on occasion, this lends the music greater urgency. This boldness works especially well in the op.4 (less so in the Voces Intimae op.56) and means that this is the account of this work to own. BIS sound is full and clear.
If you enjoy Sibelius' op.56 work you really should hear this fine earlier quartet. It's a work that repays your faith in it.
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
