American Originals - Ives & Barber: String Quartets
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CD Details
Edition: Music CDCD Release Date: 1993-01-19
Music Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Soundtracks:
- String Quartet No.1 'From The Salvation Army': I. Andante con moto
- String Quartet No.1 'From The Salvation Army': II. Allegro - Allegro con spirito - Quasi andante
- String Quartet No.1 'From The Salvation Army': III. Adagio cantabile - Allegretto- Andante con moto - Adagio cantabile
- String Quartet No.1 'From The Salvation Army': IV. Allegro marziale - Poco andante con moto - Allegro marziale
- Scherzo - 'Holding Your Own': Fast - Slow - Allegro
- String Quartet Op.11: I. Molto allegro e appassionato
- String Quartet Op.11: II. Molto adagio - attacca
- String Quartet Op.11: Molto allegro (come prima) - Presto
- String Quartet No.2: I. Discussions: Andantd moderato - Andante con spirito - Adagio molto
- String Quartet No.2: II. ArgumentsL Allegro con spirito - Andante emasculata 0 Allegro con fisto 0 Presto - largo sweetota - Allegro con fisto - Largo - Allegro con fuoco - Andante con scratchy - Allegro con fistiswatto
- String Quartet No.2: III. 'The Call Of The Mountains': Adagio Andante - Andante con spirito - Adagio primo - Adagio meatoso
Music reviews of American Originals - Ives & Barber: String Quartets
Music Review: Some blemishes, perhaps, but these are still thoroughly convincing performances
Rating: 4 Stars
I suppose the main attraction here are the Ives quartets, which may not be among his stronger works but certainly deserve to be represented in the catalogue in such excellent performances as these. The first quartet dates from 1896 and is really a student work based on the use of a variety of hymn-tunes - it is surprisingly variegated in terms of moods and textures nonetheless. It is, in short, a very interesting work which rewards repeated listening (some of the material used here can also be found again in later Ives, e.g. the third symphony). The performances could perhaps have been a touch warmer and more affectionate, but overall the work receives outstanding advocacy from the Emersons - superbly controlled and giving us some real technical wizardry, a wide range of colors, wonderfully nuanced textures and a thorough understanding of the idiom.
The second quartet was penned in 1913 and is very different in style; the first two movements are titled `Discussions' and `Arguments', respectively, and display the Ivesian style at its most abrasive and dissonant (`Arguments' suggests Bartok quartets not yet written at the time of its composition); the Emersons play with fire and fervor and manage to realize the excitement as well as a remarkable range of colors and nuances - but it seems to me that they miss the irony and sarcasm. The final movement, `The Call of the Mountains' is superbly done, however, from the chilly outset to its glittering climax. The Scherzo is a brief study piece in rhythmic juxtapositions and even if it is Ives at his most Ivesian, it is not particularly memorable.
In between we get a superb reading of the more introvert and conservative Barber quartet with the famous Adagio (which sounds more effective for full string orchestra, I have to admit). It is not among Barber's more convincing works, even though the outer movements also contain some fine ideas, skillfully developed and delivered with panache and understanding by the Emersons. This, then, is a very recommendable release, given in fine sound quality. We certainly don't get the last word on the Ives, but that shouldn't really be expected, I guess, and I suspect that these performances can compete with most other versions around (even if my familiarity with those is severely limited) - few quartets today can claim technical brilliance to equal the Emersons, and even if technical brilliance isn't everything in Ives, it certainly matters.
Description of American Originals - Ives & Barber: String Quartets
Barber's string quartet is the source of that famous Adagio for strings, popularized by the movie Platoon in its later arrangement for full string orchestra. It makes an even stronger impression in its original context, sandwiched between two thematically related quicker movements. Ives's two quartets represent the two opposing poles of his character: the early First Quartet is a lyrical work based on hymn tunes, while in the Second all hell breaks loose as the four players literally fling themselves at the music (and each other), until they finally decide--in the words of the composer--to shut up, go out, and view the firmament. The end is suitably cosmic, as are these stunning performances. --David HurwitzAll Works by Barber CDs
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