Weekly quartet. Just a music lover perspective.

619886 Views 7287 Replies 94 Participants Last post by Malx, 3 h ago

Vicente

Discussion Starter · Feb 22, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

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Art Rock

· #7,241 · 14 d ago

SearsPoncho said:
Was the video link KH provided the entire piece? Just wondering based on some of the comments.

I did not listen to the video, but it looks like the actual playing is about 20 minutes, so that should be the complete piece.

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The other link with the Engegard is only the first movement which I didn't realize at first; however the remaining movements are also accessible via youtube playlist.
Also a very interesting piece and I had never even heard of the composer. My choice tomorrow will be "boringly mainstream" but as we have had 3 or more comparably little known pieces, that's also a kind of variation

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Art Rock

· #7,243 · 13 d ago

Kreisler jr said:
The other link with the Engegard is only the first movement which I didn't realize at first; however the remaining movements are also accessible via youtube playlist.

I had not noticed, but that is a bug in the system. I posted the link to the first movement with the other movements listed to the right (playlist) - the programme converted it to an embedded video without the additional info. Lesson learned: post next time as a link attached to a line of text.

Here is the link for the Engegård Quartet version with playlist attached.

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Art Rock

· #7,244 · 13 d ago

Just listened to the BIT 20 Ensemble version (actually I played the complete Nordheim double album "Magic Island" from YouTube). Also very good, but I have a slight preference for the Engegård Quartet.

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sbmonty

· #7,245 · 13 d ago

I enjoyed this week's pick as well. Thanks for introducing a new composer to me. Engegård Quartet currently on play again.

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Kreisler jr

· #7,246 · 12 d ago (Edited)

As nobody picked a classical quartet in the last weeks I can go ahead with a long planned suggestion:

Mozart: Quartet (Nr. 14) G major K 387,

the first of the quartets dedicated to Haydn, sometimes called "Spring", so this fits also with a season.

Mozart has "only" been represented with 3 pieces so far, and 2/3 are from his last 4. So I decided it had to be one of the set dedicated to Haydn.

This is the first quartet Mozart wrote after a long break when, so it is told, the publication of Haydn's op. 33 got him interested in quartets again. Like most of the set, this first one is a very ambitious piece, especially in the movements that often used to be "short and sweet", the menuet and finale.
The menuet might be the longest in all of Mozart's chamber music (and discounting those with two trios or rondo-like menuets) it's probably the longest of all, maybe even too much of a good thing.
The finale is an instance of the Mozartean fusion of traditional counterpoint and opera buffa music, similar in brilliance to later examples, such as in the concerto K 459 or the famous finale of the last symphony. The other two movements might be not quite as obviously special, but also on a large scale and very impressive.

There are plenty of recordings and they should be findable at the streaming services or youtube.

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Philidor

· #7,247 · 12 d ago

Great choice, Kreisler jr! I like in particular the finale with its synthesis of a double fugue with the sonata form. Just great stuff and an impressing opening piece of the so-called Haydn quartets.

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Merl

· #7,248 · 12 d ago

Great choice, Kreisler. I've blogged this one already but it's a great quartet with many fine accounts and hardly one that I didn't like. The finale is so clever. I'm sure you'll all find a recording that will tick all the boxes for you but I urge you to check out the Van Kuijk one. Certainly not one of the quickest but texturally wonderful (and a recorded sound to die for). It's available on the main streaming platforms.

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sbmonty

· #7,249 · 12 d ago

Nice choice! Alban Berg Quartet for me this am. On Teldec.

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SearsPoncho

· #7,250 · 12 d ago

sbmonty said:
Nice choice! Alban Berg Quartet for me this am. On Teldec.

Yes! That's the one I listen to. Very enjoyable and timely.

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Malx

· #7,251 · 12 d ago

I've a few on the shelves I'll revisit this week - like others the Alban Berg Teldec set is the one I generally reach for first.

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Kreisler jr

· #7,252 · 12 d ago

I listened to Melos/DG a few days ago when making the final decision which quartet to pick. I also have Janacek, Juilliard, Italiano, Alban Berg, Petersen, Hagen, so I should be able to listen to all of them during the week.

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Xenophiliu

· #7,253 · 12 d ago

Gave a listen to ABQ today. Will spend some time this week with the Alexander Quartet and maybe another as time provides.

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HerbertNorman

· #7,254 · 11 d ago

Another lovely Mozart SQ , I started with the Emerson on DG ....

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SearsPoncho

· #7,255 · 10 d ago

What a great way to start a week leading into a holiday weekend (Memorial Day in the U.S.). I like it all, including the long Menuetto, but my favorite movement is the finale. There's a fusion of so much greatness in a fairly short span: imitative polyphony that's a harbinger of the finale to the 41st symphony, Mozart's talent for lyrical writing, and some Steve Harris-ish galloping rhythms. This is definitely one where the listener can pick up something "new" with each listen. As the 1st "Haydn" quartet, I wonder if Mozart was either trying to emulate him or use some of his techniques because there are a few moments that could be described as Haydnesque. For example, the 2nd subject of the 1st movement exposition sounds more like a Haydn theme to my ears.

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Merl

· #7,256 · 10 d ago

SearsPoncho said:
... but my favorite movement is the finale. There's a fusion of so much greatness in a fairly short span: imitative polyphony that's a harbinger of the finale to the 41st symphony, Mozart's talent for lyrical writing, and some Steve Harris-ish galloping rhythms....

Wow, I never thought I'd read a reference to Iron Maiden in this thread!

🎸

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SearsPoncho

· #7,257 · 9 d ago

Merl said:
Wow, I never thought I'd read a reference to Iron Maiden in this thread! 🎸

Eddie would look great in a powdered wig.

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Malx

· #7,258 · 9 d ago

SearsPoncho said:
Eddie would look great in a powdered wig.

Ah, but what white powder would he use?

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Xenophiliu

· #7,259 · 9 d ago (Edited)

Kreisler jr said:
My choice tomorrow will be "boringly mainstream" but as we have had 3 or more comparably little known pieces, that's also a kind of variation

I know boringly mainstream was in jest, but Mozart's simple pleasures are quite in contrast, and pleasurably so. I very much enjoy some very small moments in SQ14:

The wonderful raising of tension between the first and second subjects in the opening movement. It all seems simple, but completely effective.
The upward cello & viola motion at the end of the trio in the 2nd movement. Fun chromatic lines appear to be a general theme in this SQ.
The 3rd slow movement seems to really go far afield harmonically, and it amuses me greatly. And those sextuplets!
Others have mentioned the counterpoint in the final movement (like he is ending a Mass). In contrast to the almost rustic, folksy idea which follows seems like it would all be incongruous, but never does anything seem out of place.

An enjoyable listen for the week!
ABQ & Alexander Quartet

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hammeredklavier

· #7,260 · 9 d ago

Kreisler jr said:
This is the first quartet Mozart wrote after a long break when, so it is told, the publication of Haydn's op. 33 got him interested in quartets again. Like most of the set, this first one is a very ambitious piece, especially in the movements that often used to be "short and sweet", the menuet and finale.

I'm inclined to believe he wrote them cause he needed new compositions to play in his quartet gatherings (with Dittersdorf, Vanhal, Haydn). The idea Mozart wrote things cause he was simply "interested" seems far too "Romantic" in thinking to me; he pretty much always wrote for practical purposes. Not to mention, things like the slow movements of Divertimentos K.247, 334 are also pretty much "string quartets in disguise".

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