Wellesz String Quartets Nos 3, 4 & 6
From Chausson to Schoenberg: spot the influences in these compelling string quartets
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Egon (Joseph) Wellesz
Genre:
Chamber
Label: Nimbus
Magazine Review Date: 10/2008
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 63
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: NI5821
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
String Quartet No 3 |
Egon (Joseph) Wellesz, Composer
Artis Quartet Egon (Joseph) Wellesz, Composer |
String Quartet No 4 |
Egon (Joseph) Wellesz, Composer
Artis Quartet Egon (Joseph) Wellesz, Composer |
String Quartet No 6 |
Egon (Joseph) Wellesz, Composer
Artis Quartet Egon (Joseph) Wellesz, Composer |
Author: Rob Cowan
The curve of Wellesz’s development reflects a trend similar to many of his contemporaries: early romanticism gives way, in the 1920s and beyond, to confrontational modernism eventually leading to a cooler, post-classical style. The Fourth Quartet (1922) is terse, aphoristic and tautly argued, each of its five movements shorter in length than you might expect, its style intense and inscrutable. Calum MacDonald’s invaluable note suggests an audible prophecy of Berg’s Lyric Suite and I noted some telling similarities to Bartók, ie at around 1'17" into the fourth movement.
The Sixth Quartet (1947) opens like a homage to Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture and the classical axis remains in place more or less throughout, especially in the middle movements. Performance-wise one could hardly ask for more in the way of dedication or perception. With luck Wellesz’s remaining six quartets won’t be too long in joining these.
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