Enthusiasts may already possess Bliss’s two mature string quartets in the Delmé Quartet’s superb Hyperion coupling from 1985. Now come the Maggini Quartet’s new thoughts on this rewarding repertoire. Their recordings come as part of a project which will stretch to two discs and embrace some fascinating rarities of its own. The earliest work here‚ the String Quartet in A major‚ was completed around 1914 and taken up by the Philharmonic String Quartet (whose line­up featured Eugene Goossens on second violin). It’s a fresh­faced‚ skilfully wrought essay‚ tinged with English modal pastoralism and an occasional dash of Ravel‚ and much admired by Lady Elgar (in a letter to Bliss‚ who was on active service in France‚ she wrote of the music’s ‘eager life and exhilarating energy and hope’). In 1919‚ Bliss withdrew the Quartet‚ travelling to Paris where he fell under the spell of the chic radicalism of Les Six. While in the French capital‚ he composed Conversations‚ a wittily mischievous‚ at times strikingly memorable suite in five pithy movements‚ imaginatively scored for flute/bass flute‚ oboe/cor anglais‚ violin‚ viola and cello. However‚ it’s the First Quartet proper which yields the most enduring rewards. Commissioned by and dedicated to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge‚ the work was written during 1940 in Berkeley‚ California‚ where it was first performed by the Pro Arte Quartet in April 1941‚ receiving its British première from the Griller Quartet in London some 11 months later. Cast in four movements and full of high­class invention‚ this is a shrewdly argued piece which strikes an enormously pleasing balance between captivating poise‚ formidable economy of thought and fervent expression. As with the masterly Music for Strings of 1935‚ Bliss’s command and understanding of the forces at his disposal are complete‚ and the work as whole shows the composer at his consummate‚ intelligent best. The Maggini Quartet deserve the heartiest plaudits for their cogent and assured championship of this music; if anything‚ their account of the B flat Quartet surpasses that of the Delmé in its clean­limbed authority and scrupulous commitment to the cause. For Conversations‚ Nicholas Daniel and Michael Cox join in the fun with exemplary spirit and character. The sound is vivid and true. This is‚ quite simply‚ another irresistible bargain from the Maggini Quartet and Naxos.