Programmes

 

Haydn String Quartet Op. 76 No. 4 ‘Sunrise’ [22’]

Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 1 in E flat major, Op.12 (1829) [23’32]

*** Interval ***

Schubert String Quartet No. 14 in D minor D. 810 ‘Death and the Maiden’ [40’]
                       
Three string quartets from three of the masters of the genre, two are mature works, and the other is an amazing achievement by a true prodigy.

Haydn was the father of the modern string quartet, he wrote this piece as part of his last complete set of string quartets, published after some confusion in 1799.     It is a work of innovation and exploration away from the traditional forms.                     

Mendelssohn was a great child prodigy and wrote this work when only 20 in 1829.  It is an incredible achievement for such a young composer. 

Schubert was also a child prodigy but wrote this work towards the end of his life in 1824, when he had recently heard of his deteriorating health.  The work gets its name from his earlier Lied of the same name and is one of Schubert’s crowning masterpieces.

 

Martinu ‘American Connections’

Martinu String Quartet No. 7 “Concerto da Camera” [22’]

Korngold String Quartet No. 3 [26’]

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Dvorak String Quartet No. 12 in F major Op. 96 ‘American’ [28’]

There can be no doubt that America’s influence on European composers has been profound and constant.

Martinu’s last quartet, composed in New York where he was living and working, is a more neoclassical approach to the string quartet than his previous offerings. 

It is partnered here by Korngold’s last quartet - an Austrian who made his home and career in America.  He moved away from his Viennese roots to become one of Hollywood’s greatest composers.

Dvorak’s time in America is well documented.  Perhaps most tellingly he said of his work at this time - “I should never have written these works 'just so' if I hadn't seen America." 

 

 

A Tippett Connection

 

Haydn String Quartet Op. 33 No. 1 [22]

Tippett String Quartet No. 3 [26’]

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Beethoven String Quartet Op. 74 ‘Harp’ [30’]

Michael Tippett used to ask that his Beethoven string quartet scores be locked away so that he could obsess over them no longer!  Beethoven’s influence is ever present in Tippett’s quartets, which are some of his finest work.
The third string quartet is arguably the best of the set, and shares many of the qualities found in the quartets of his great hero.  Tippett’s obsession with polyphony and rhythmic energy is abundantly apparent in this work.

It seems only natural to place this piece in its context.  Beethoven was influenced by and exceeded the work of Joseph Haydn, the father of the string quartet.

Contemporary British Programme

Thomas Ades Arcadiana Op. 12 (1994) [19’]

String Quartet No 1 the case of the unanswered wire (2004) [9’]

Simon Holt 2 Movements for String Quartet (2001) [15’]

Nicola LeFanu String Quartet No. 2 [12’]

Richard Rodney Bennett ‘Music for string quartet’ 1981 [9’]

Five works for string quartet by some of Britain’s finest living composers.

20th Century Programme

Phillip Glass String Quartet No. 5 [21]

Thomas Ades Arcadiana Op. 12 [19’]

*** Interval ***

Piazolla ‘Four for Tango’ [4’]

Janacek String Quartet No. 2 ‘Intimate Letters’ [26]