DANISH STRING QUARTET - Prism III
ECM New Series 485 5417
Frederik Øland (violin); Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen (violin); Asbjørn Nørgaard (viola); Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin (violoncello)
Recorded November 2017
As part of their ongoing Prism series of recordings, this third offering from the Danish String Quartet is a complete and utter delight, and tackles head on Beethovens' notorious String Quartet No 14. In C -sharp minor op.131. A piece that has been so daunting for so many has been dissected and rehearsed by the Quartet for so long that they make this performance sound elegant and effortless, bringing out every nuance and phrase in this incredible piece of work.
In the latter part of his life, the composer had become fascinated to the point of obsession with Johann Sebastian Bach's 'The Well-Tempered Clavier', and examining this in such minute detail as to base some of his final string quartets on motifs from Bach's fugues, and this in turn has inspired the composers that have come him and also generation after generation of musicians to question and re-examine this wonderful music and its lineage.
In the liner notes to this release, the Danish String Quartet recall how they first encountered the music and the preparation required to perform it at a competition where the piece was a compulsory composition to be presented to the judges. Having felt that they were able to reproduce the notes but failed to capture the essence of the music, the Quartet have persevered and refined their interpretation of Beethoven's masterly work to the point where , as a listener, one only hears the joy inherent in the music and not any difficulty that may be presented to the musicians.
In turn, as Beethoven was inspired by Bach's work, Béla Bartók was inspired by Beethoven's later string quartets and the mood of String Quartet No 14. In C -sharp minor op.131. can be heard the opening movement, 'Lento' of his own String Quartet No. 1 op.7, composed in 1909. Bringing their music forward to the new challenge of the Hungarian composer's work the Quartet bring forth a captivating performance that often sounds like a much larger string ensemble that is all encompassing, delivering a thrilling edge to the music.
In closing the programme, the Quartet once again remind us of the source of the music played with a reading of Bach's Fugue in C-sharp minor from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I where once again, all one can hear is the beauty of the composition and the integrity of the Danish String Quartet in their interpretation and profound understanding of the composer.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
ECM New Series 485 5417
Frederik Øland (violin); Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen (violin); Asbjørn Nørgaard (viola); Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin (violoncello)
Recorded November 2017
As part of their ongoing Prism series of recordings, this third offering from the Danish String Quartet is a complete and utter delight, and tackles head on Beethovens' notorious String Quartet No 14. In C -sharp minor op.131. A piece that has been so daunting for so many has been dissected and rehearsed by the Quartet for so long that they make this performance sound elegant and effortless, bringing out every nuance and phrase in this incredible piece of work.
In the latter part of his life, the composer had become fascinated to the point of obsession with Johann Sebastian Bach's 'The Well-Tempered Clavier', and examining this in such minute detail as to base some of his final string quartets on motifs from Bach's fugues, and this in turn has inspired the composers that have come him and also generation after generation of musicians to question and re-examine this wonderful music and its lineage.
In the liner notes to this release, the Danish String Quartet recall how they first encountered the music and the preparation required to perform it at a competition where the piece was a compulsory composition to be presented to the judges. Having felt that they were able to reproduce the notes but failed to capture the essence of the music, the Quartet have persevered and refined their interpretation of Beethoven's masterly work to the point where , as a listener, one only hears the joy inherent in the music and not any difficulty that may be presented to the musicians.
In turn, as Beethoven was inspired by Bach's work, Béla Bartók was inspired by Beethoven's later string quartets and the mood of String Quartet No 14. In C -sharp minor op.131. can be heard the opening movement, 'Lento' of his own String Quartet No. 1 op.7, composed in 1909. Bringing their music forward to the new challenge of the Hungarian composer's work the Quartet bring forth a captivating performance that often sounds like a much larger string ensemble that is all encompassing, delivering a thrilling edge to the music.
In closing the programme, the Quartet once again remind us of the source of the music played with a reading of Bach's Fugue in C-sharp minor from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I where once again, all one can hear is the beauty of the composition and the integrity of the Danish String Quartet in their interpretation and profound understanding of the composer.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
