Some not on your list I would recommend in terms of sets:
Michael Tippett (five quartets, in somewhat different styles from one to the next)
Peter Sculthorpe (not all of his quartets are strictly quartets, because some involve additional instruments, much like how one of Schoenberg's string quartets has a soprano also)
Robert Simpson (especially #7-9)
Aulis Sallinen
Listen to Ruth Crawford Seeger's quartet (there's only one, but it's great)
Giacinto Scelsi's quartets are worth trying out (the Arditti quartet recorded the complete set remarkably well)
Pavel Haas
George Rochberg
I remember watching a video from Adam Neely discussing Ben Johnston's [Quartet](https://open.spotify.com/album/64cA0ySblmI8jMAJmITMZE?si=oTlN2uvgQz-g2jvjyS0Spw)
He believes that the quarter is the single hardest piece to perfom.
I do believe that's how I first heard of it, though I'm not part of Neely's regular audience. I've listened to all of Johnston's quartets many times since; I think them to be incredibly powerful.
Op.20 are the first great string quartets in the literature, and they are certainly wonderful. Haydn at full innovative and creative genius. Then there are the ones to follow - inexhaustible creativity.
I have also listened (somewhat superficially) to some string quartets by Leopold Kozeluch, which seem pleasant in a Haydnesque sort of way. I recommend you start with opus 32 no 3 in E flat.
If you like that one, you could also check out his Sonata Concertante for clarinet and string orchestra. He basically pinched the first two movements of the quartet and turned them into the first two of the sonata. I think they sound better with the clarinet … but I also understand that’s not the kind of thing you’re looking for right now.
And here’s another. I am barely acquainted with these but they sound interesting: the [three string quartets by Henri Sauguet](http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/Apr/Sauguet_quartets_1C1244.htm). They span 52 years of the composer’s life, and even on a quick listen I can hear the stylistic and emotional drift over time. You could put them in your playlist somewhere between Ravel and Dutilleux.
I have no idea how I could've missed him so far; he's been part of my symphonic list and I've played his music, so yes, of course I'll listen to him! Thank you for the reminder!
I adore Weinberg, and loved his quartets, too, though I prefer him as a symphonist, I must admit. But some of those are brilliant, and great fun to play, too!
I’m not gonna go super obscure but these are maybe not the most overwhelmingly obvious ones which are in bulk and easily collectible:
1. Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Zemlinsky LaSalle Quartet
2. Bartok, complete string Quartets Takacs quartet.
3. Martinu with the martinu quartet
4. Nielsen Quartets Danish String Quartets
5. Dvorak quartets with panocha quartet
6. Mendelssohn quartets with the Talich quartets
Nielsen is what I haven't listened to out of those you've mentioned, and while I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan of his symphonies I do believe in second chances and will give him a listen. At the very least because your list is very convincing otherwise ;)
If you haven’t listened to Kronos Quartet’s “Howl” Album, that’s definitely a good one. Pretty far outside musically traditional, but scored entirely for traditional string quartet.
FLOG YOUUU but seriously the Cold War Suite by Scott Johnson on the album is like you listen to music but you accidentally learn proper history, what a great work.
Ives wrote two. John Harbison is an interesting modern American composer, I’ve heard some of his symphonies but none of the six string quartets, I’ll have to start them soon!
Hard to know what to suggest without a list of what you've heard. But for the classics of "modernist" contemporary music, broadly defined, you could do worse than listening to the Arditti Quartet's entire extensive discography. Don't do it all at once, though, their sound can get a little wearying.
Other quartets to look at for contemporary music: JACK (their recording of the Xenakis quartets is magnificent, and way better than the Ardittis), Diotima, Bozzini (a very different repertoire, mostly), MIVOS.
You're right; I've edited the original post because of you. Thanks for your suggestions, too, I'll make sure to check those out! Loads of things I've not looked into yet.
My answer to this is always Maconchy but you've already got her covered!
If you like mid-20th-century Scandinavian composers then Vagn Holmboe (20) and Hilding Rosenberg (12) will keep you occupied for a while. More recently Per Nørgård has 10 of them; I haven't heard them all but there's a lot of good stuff in there.
Check out Nepomuk's Dances by Zarvos. Not exactly African but I think the composer is Brazilian and based it on folk dances
https://youtu.be/Xi5s3rWvMzY?si=X1yjkxm1vruhcBVT
Also shostakovich's final quartet is amazing
https://youtu.be/QccUkIhrrO8?si=qHqoxbdwLh3Dq63n
Also love this movement of Nyman's 2nd quartet
https://youtu.be/lFmL851qi7s?si=b-ISbowNA80Fzns7
Two lesser known string quartets I enjoy:
Joly Braga Santos String quartet op. 1, op. 4 (there's also a second one0
Franz Xaver Richter, op. 5, 1 (lots of fun to play, too; this is a series of three, I believe).
Swedish composer Wilhelm Stenhammar wrote wonderful quartets, start here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5U4I2owIk6FD8qI1m1qBSU?si=cYhmdof4SZq8wbAnGEmGQg
Arnold Bax: String Quartets 1-3 (Maggini quartet is the best? Only? Recording)
Ernst Moeran: String Quartets 1-2 (Maggini again is the best choice here)
A few that haven’t been mentioned yet as far as so can tell:
Some of Anton Rubinstein’s quartets really slap - No 2 is particularly cool with a fugal first movement and an absolutely rocking finale.
Two contemporaries of Mozart who also died tragically young were Hyacinthe Jadin and Juan Arriaga. Both wrote and published quartets that don’t suck and are impressive given the age of the composers.
And Beethoven’s contemporary Spohr was an extremely accomplished quartet composer who was widely respected in his day. He wrote a shit ton of quartets, and also wrote a series of great double quartets and even at least one concerto for string quartet & orchestra - so he was well acquainted with the genre!
Very interesting and niche, thank you! I had so far skipped on Rubinstein because my 'Russian Connection' was extensive enough as is, but if he's a standout I'll be happy to make some room for him! Jadin I've never heard of, meanwhile Arriaga I've played, even, and he really is lovely. I'll add both to my list. And Spohr is, of course, rather famous. Can't say I find his music much more than 'perfectly inoffensive', but that's no reason to skip on him; I might as well listen, I think...
I know it's one of the obvious ones, but what do you think about that? [https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/0BWiAfeQAp6VmCWXaNiF1M?si=OtKFCtQWTH2AuoJDfYyeKw](https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/0BWiAfeQAp6VmCWXaNiF1M?si=OtKFCtQWTH2AuoJDfYyeKw)
-Jefferson Friedman, two quartets, No. 2 and No. 3... I especially recommend #3.
-Robert Erickson has four works for the ensemble, and Corfu is my favorite.
-Both of the Adams, John and John Luther, have works worth exploring.
-Barber feels like an obvious hole in your list.
-Florence Price has some nice works.
-William Grant Still's Danzas de Panama has some nice moments, but is sort of kitschy overall.
I somehow left out Dutilleux as well, don't sleep on Ainsi La Nuit!
You almost certainly know the middle mvmt of the Barber...he extracted it, adjusted it for string orchestra, and now its commonly performed as "Adagio for Strings"
The Clara Schumann string quartet slaps (especially the last movement) and came to rec the Schaefer quartets, but I see you have already listened to them.
Clara has written some wonderful music, so I must listen to her quartet, too! And Schaefer was a wonderful experience; among the most impressive finds so far, to be honest.
In case nobody mentioned it anywhere else in the thread, the Richard Wetz String Quartet no. 2 is lovely.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA1dSkWsIqQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA1dSkWsIqQ)
Literally just listened to [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gumi5pEpOaA) and it floored me - he was ahead of his time. Sorry if you've already heard it. Anything by the Danish String Quartet is amazing. [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlsVuhD0AaQ) too - one of my faves.
Here is an unusual one that was recommended to me some years back and now everyone I recommend it to falls for it. Lyle Chan was an AIDS activist and he wrote his memoir in the form of a 90-min string quartet in 15 (I think?) movements. No two of which are alike.
Here’s one section. https://youtu.be/EmDcrty3e9E?si=aRZ_4pWV-BFWRrj7
And here’s the playlist for the whole thing.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ke4ECck4q6h71NNz0oijXiWB6w6TBbsHY&si=hTN6r29chgHYMoEX
Ferdinand Ries (Beethoven student) wrote 26 string quartets. There's some great recordings by Schuppanzigh Quartet. However, I don't believe all his string quartets have been recorded yet :-/
Germaine Tailleferre is a women composer who has written a pretty nice string quartet
Also check out Boccerini who was one of the earliest composers to write for string quartet
I don't think I saw these string quartet composers recommended yet:
Fanny Hensel (née Mendelssohn)
Vitezslava Kaprálová
Viktor Ullmann (string quartet no. 3, his only surviving quartet)
\* Philip Glass (I like the last couple ones more than the early ones). Quatour Molinari has recorded them all (I believe). If I could only take one music recording to a desert island it would definitely be Philip Glass's string quartets.
\* Pavel Haas. This is a recommendation by my partner and I have no clue what he likes about it.
\* Fanny Hensel (née Mendelssohn). As far as I know she wrote only one. I like the recording by Quatour Ebène.
\* Laura Elise Schwendinger, as performed by JACK Quartet.
\* Catherine Lamb, as performed by JACK Quartet.
\* Jorg Widmann. His string quartets are listed as "Streichquartett" (at least in IDAGIO), and two of them also include a soprano, but the others don't. Recorded by the Leipziger Streichquartett.
\* Unfortunately none of Caroline Shaw's pieces for string quartet are named "String Quartet", because they're so fucking gorgeous. Your loss :-)
\* If you decide to open up to pieces not named "String Quartet", also check out Forbidden Love by Julia Wolfe (as performed by Sō Percussion).
Then my heartiest recommendation are Caroline Shaw's pieces recorded by the Attacca Quartet that are in two albums, called Evergreen and Orange. BTW I like your idea of listening to all string quartets, or all of everything, and I wanted to try something like that. Do you listen and follow the score, or just listen? Do you take notes?
I just listen; mainly because something had to give, and I - especially with my ADD - would never be able to find the time and focus to sit down and 'watch' music for even remotely as long as I am able to listening to it while working, commuting, or running errands. So right now I've been listening to 95% classical music for about 18 months and I just rarely re-listen; every day, I'm experiencing something new. I keep track of what I'm listening to in a tidy simple Excel chart, and in the end of the year I'll do my own Spotify-Wrapped-kinda-thing, just for fun.
I've done the same last year, as mentioned, and it was very entertaining, and motivating, too. E.g., I'm in the midst of writing a paper on the Eurasianist movement in music in relation to Western Orientalism, and have been listening to quartets all day while writing. "Lutoslawski 1, Cage 1, Gould 1, Kaminski 1, Kaprálová 1, Ullmann 1, Tailleferre 1, Sciarrino 8, Top 2, Bruce 1" is what I've listened to so far today. I write down more than that, but you get the gist.
The only notes I take is saving my very favourite movements of things as I go to remember what I'd like to recommend to people or give another listen to myself later. It's hard to remember that after having heard 433 quartets in four months... :P
That's such a cool thing. I am not entirely sure I could do the same thing as I tend to obsess over pieces/composers and listen incessantly on repeat for days or weeks. But I always think I should be more systematic at expanding my boundaries.
Depth can be found in both vertical and horizontal exploration; don't worry about that! I listened to twenty different Prokofiev 2nd recordings when writing my thesis on the concerto and then went on and tried to listen to every recorded Prokofiev piece, period. It was very intensive and hyperfocused, the complete opposite of what I'm doing now, I feel like. I kept listening to the same pieces again and again, too, and that's also how I approach non-classical music. Just dare to try something you hadn't done before, it's much easier than you anticipate it to be :)
Here’s a page I created some years back on Facebook: will give you a chance to hear a wide range of String Quartets. Hope you find it useful:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/String4tetMusic/
It's been a while, but if you're up for it I've discovered another composer of string quartets whose 3rd I hear is very good (but it is not available on the usual platforms yet; it was premiered only yesterday). He is Shane Woodborne and his first two quartets (in mediocre audio quality) are on YouTube.
Apologies for breaking your second guideline:
Caroline Shaw - Entr’acte (and many more pieces recorded by Attacca Quartet)
John Luther Adams - The Wind in High Places (and other pieces recorded by JACK Quartet)
John Cage - String Quartet in Four Parts
Try Philip Glass' string quartets (there are at least 8). I love number 5! I think some of them are not explicitly named "String Quartet no. X" though. I also listened to some very minor composers' string quartets on Youtube recently that I found sort of interesting, they are:
Elias Haddad: String Quartet 1
Derek David: String Quartet 1
Stafylakis: String Quartet 3
Edward Top: String Quartet 1
Thank you, noted! I must admit that I've struggled through his symphonies and didn't enjoy Nyman's minimalism in quartet form, either, but depending on how far I want to take this whole thing I might just have to give Glass a second chance.
Yeah listening is Glass is a variable experience. I recommend starting with the one string quartet by him that’s left off the list. His soundtrack for the silent film Dracula is entirely string quartet, played by Kronos. Lots of short movements, Glass can’t meander like in the symphonies because of the visual content. Even if you don’t like a movement it’s over pretty soon. Most of is very attractive music here.
Philip Glass string quartets:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Philip_Glass#String_quartets
Peter Sculthorpe:
The Complete String Quartets with Didjeridu
https://sonoluminuslabel.bandcamp.com/album/sculthorpe-the-complete-string-quartets-with-didjeridu
Apart from Shostakovich's many string quartets, which I'm sure you know already, I like both of these:
- Richter's Infra.
- David Bruce's "The Lick" quartet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWEgOaoYUPM)
I'd recommend you check out his choral ballades "Gaismas pils", "Beverīnas dziedonis" and "Karaļmeita".
He also has a symphony and a piano sonata.
A popular piano piece of his is "Viļnu dziesma" (Song of the Waves).
Jānis Mediņš has a collection of 24 dainas (preludes), but he also has a piano concerto in C# minor. He also has orchestral suites, the most famous of which is his first suite's second movement - Aria. He also has 2 cello concertos and a good opera called "Uguns un nakts", which you can find a performance of on YouTube.
If you want more orchestral pieces, you can check out Andrejs Jurjāns' Concerto elegiaco for cello in E minor, Symphonic allegro, Suite "Latvian Dances" and his cantatas "Tēvijai" and "Līgojiet, līksmojiet"
I'd also recommend Jānis Ivanovs' 21 symphonies, especially no. 4 titled "Atlantis" and also his impressionist style symphonic poem "Varavīksne". He also has a piano concerto in D minor, a violin concerto in E minor, and a cello concerto in B minor.
Also, another good Latvian piano concerto is Lūcija Garūta's Piano Concerto in F# minor.
Hope these pieces will be to your pleasure!
Some not on your list I would recommend in terms of sets: Michael Tippett (five quartets, in somewhat different styles from one to the next) Peter Sculthorpe (not all of his quartets are strictly quartets, because some involve additional instruments, much like how one of Schoenberg's string quartets has a soprano also) Robert Simpson (especially #7-9) Aulis Sallinen Listen to Ruth Crawford Seeger's quartet (there's only one, but it's great) Giacinto Scelsi's quartets are worth trying out (the Arditti quartet recorded the complete set remarkably well) Pavel Haas George Rochberg
+++ for Haas and Crawford Seeger especially, amazing works!
So many names I do not recognise; I should change that, thanks!
According to your criteria, this one fits perfectly: String Quartet Op.1 by Glenn Gould
Oh, I had no idea, cool!
Alberto Ginastera - [Quartets 1-3](https://open.spotify.com/album/4ANc7bx64a04MuV5lRy4gE?si=z_klK2I2QL2VNhnitFs_RA) John Adams - [Fellow Traveler](https://open.spotify.com/track/4p5Wmoy3Rd22WpBY2I5YIq?si=zEg-lEOIRDy-7MwCURE7wA&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A76MhP9wR5CML55bQyRIeU9) GF Haas - [Quartets 1-2](https://open.spotify.com/album/1Krt9IraA8KM3s6JqGApmZ?si=oJ6RpdCrSL2L9H6XflLOQA) Eleanor Alberga - [Quartets 1-3](https://open.spotify.com/album/5JyWomkeMjqdpI4kf4FKFP?si=rCoCLmLYRh63nVFqp1vCxA) Ben Johnston - [Quartets 6-8](https://open.spotify.com/album/64cA0ySblmI8jMAJmITMZE?si=oTlN2uvgQz-g2jvjyS0Spw) Erwin Schulhoff - [Quartet 1; Five Pieces for String Quartet](https://open.spotify.com/album/7LGmfbwHaLaiqYA2G0XLkK?si=yz4rvkYrTt6NMLChvvqIlA) George Crumb - [Black Angels](https://open.spotify.com/album/5mGBPZX9qZnsEsIW94Kpk6?si=SPRm4VfySjGVGuUR8WLn6A) Paul Hindemith - [Quartets 1, 4, & 7](https://open.spotify.com/album/6QbItx6CnHq9F3H0W9S5Wn?si=f-BENYx6TQaxdmhUxQh6Wg) Jessie Montgomery - [Strum](https://open.spotify.com/track/2qqFRwdf8RXYRH7nle4M0X?si=-OKtVnJjTIWrUx7rTHrrcw&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A41wzLOD5c9WhVY4waoYSjj)
Johnston, Schulhoff, and Hindemith are the only ones I've listened to, and had a blast with all of them, so this list is especially promising, thanks!
Lemme know if you need any other recommendations! My whole schtick is string chamber music :)
Perfect, I will!
I remember watching a video from Adam Neely discussing Ben Johnston's [Quartet](https://open.spotify.com/album/64cA0ySblmI8jMAJmITMZE?si=oTlN2uvgQz-g2jvjyS0Spw) He believes that the quarter is the single hardest piece to perfom.
I do believe that's how I first heard of it, though I'm not part of Neely's regular audience. I've listened to all of Johnston's quartets many times since; I think them to be incredibly powerful.
Mozart - the Hunt K458 Debussy - String Quartet Ravel - String Quartet Sibelius - String Quartet “Voces Intimae” Berg - Lyric Suite for String Quartet Smetana - Quartet # 2 Bartok - any of his 6 Quartets Shostakovich - any of his 15 Quartets Britten - Quartet # 1 Janáček - Kreutzer Sonato Quartet # 1 Borodin - Quartet # 2 That should be a nice start.
I've listened to all of those, but you've got a great taste! ;)
Debussy and Ravel are named in the top three here. Absolutely a must for both.
Take my upvote for Smetana #2 - such a wonderful work and undeservedly neglected.
a good list
Borodin 2 for viola lovers
I very much am one!
Haydn 'Sun' quartets are nice. Some nice fugatos in there.
Op.20 are the first great string quartets in the literature, and they are certainly wonderful. Haydn at full innovative and creative genius. Then there are the ones to follow - inexhaustible creativity.
Haydn's next on my list, of course. I've been putting him off long enough, but now it's time...
Check out the Attaca Quartet’s recordings of Caroline Shaw’s works for quartet if you haven’t already.
Will do!
I don’t think anyone has yet mentioned the String Quartet by Witold Lutoslawski. It’s very typical of his mature style.
I have also listened (somewhat superficially) to some string quartets by Leopold Kozeluch, which seem pleasant in a Haydnesque sort of way. I recommend you start with opus 32 no 3 in E flat.
Noted!
If you like that one, you could also check out his Sonata Concertante for clarinet and string orchestra. He basically pinched the first two movements of the quartet and turned them into the first two of the sonata. I think they sound better with the clarinet … but I also understand that’s not the kind of thing you’re looking for right now.
I'll definitely keep it in mind, though! After this I'll be back to listening to whatever, I think. Enough with the artificial restrictions.
And here’s another. I am barely acquainted with these but they sound interesting: the [three string quartets by Henri Sauguet](http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/Apr/Sauguet_quartets_1C1244.htm). They span 52 years of the composer’s life, and even on a quick listen I can hear the stylistic and emotional drift over time. You could put them in your playlist somewhere between Ravel and Dutilleux.
Done!
I have no idea how I could've missed him so far; he's been part of my symphonic list and I've played his music, so yes, of course I'll listen to him! Thank you for the reminder!
Britten No. 2 is a fave.
Britten is one of my favourite chamber composers, specifically! :)
Grazyna Bacewicz's 7 Quartets
I first learnt of Bacewicz during my master's and knew I had to check them out. Enjoyed them greatly, especially the first one!
Mieczysław Weinberg
I adore Weinberg, and loved his quartets, too, though I prefer him as a symphonist, I must admit. But some of those are brilliant, and great fun to play, too!
What about Aleksander Lasoń? https://open.spotify.com/album/7CEhamXF4RqL43NoxqJgPt?si=cQeGaVKSSWKVIE2KEpiPmQ
Never heard the name, but I'll change that now, thank you!
I’m not gonna go super obscure but these are maybe not the most overwhelmingly obvious ones which are in bulk and easily collectible: 1. Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Zemlinsky LaSalle Quartet 2. Bartok, complete string Quartets Takacs quartet. 3. Martinu with the martinu quartet 4. Nielsen Quartets Danish String Quartets 5. Dvorak quartets with panocha quartet 6. Mendelssohn quartets with the Talich quartets
Nielsen is what I haven't listened to out of those you've mentioned, and while I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan of his symphonies I do believe in second chances and will give him a listen. At the very least because your list is very convincing otherwise ;)
Only major quartet cycle I’m not seeing mentioned, Alan Hovhannes actually come to think of it also wrote 4 great string quartets.
Noted!
I scrolled down to find this. I’ve been plugging Nielsen’s 2nd quartet (f minor) for years. It is a devastating, seething masterpiece.
If you haven’t listened to Kronos Quartet’s “Howl” Album, that’s definitely a good one. Pretty far outside musically traditional, but scored entirely for traditional string quartet.
Black Angels is a crushing album by Kronos
> scored entirely for traditional string quartet. I thought the entire album was string quartet plus spoken voice.
You’re right. It’s an album I love, so I broke the rules for it. FLOG MEEEE 😉
FLOG YOUUU but seriously the Cold War Suite by Scott Johnson on the album is like you listen to music but you accidentally learn proper history, what a great work.
Very curious to give it a listen :)
2 genius not well known quartets: Billy Jim Layton, Michael von Biel
Truly not well-known, at least not by me. I'll search for them!
Grieg No.1 and No.2 Kodaly No.2 Milhaud No.1 Brahms No.1 Schumann No.3 Zemlinsky No.1 Bruckner in F Major Strauss No.2
Kodaly and Milhaud I have yet to listen to, so I'll write those down; thank you :)
Luigi Cherubini. His quartets are quite impressive, and Beethoven considered him as his greatest contemporary.
I concur!
Never would I have listened to them, I think. Now I will, thanks!
Ives wrote two. John Harbison is an interesting modern American composer, I’ve heard some of his symphonies but none of the six string quartets, I’ll have to start them soon!
I'll be happy to take this journey with you ;)
Hard to know what to suggest without a list of what you've heard. But for the classics of "modernist" contemporary music, broadly defined, you could do worse than listening to the Arditti Quartet's entire extensive discography. Don't do it all at once, though, their sound can get a little wearying. Other quartets to look at for contemporary music: JACK (their recording of the Xenakis quartets is magnificent, and way better than the Ardittis), Diotima, Bozzini (a very different repertoire, mostly), MIVOS.
You're right; I've edited the original post because of you. Thanks for your suggestions, too, I'll make sure to check those out! Loads of things I've not looked into yet.
My answer to this is always Maconchy but you've already got her covered! If you like mid-20th-century Scandinavian composers then Vagn Holmboe (20) and Hilding Rosenberg (12) will keep you occupied for a while. More recently Per Nørgård has 10 of them; I haven't heard them all but there's a lot of good stuff in there.
I'll make sure to write those names down, too, thank you!
Check out Nepomuk's Dances by Zarvos. Not exactly African but I think the composer is Brazilian and based it on folk dances https://youtu.be/Xi5s3rWvMzY?si=X1yjkxm1vruhcBVT Also shostakovich's final quartet is amazing https://youtu.be/QccUkIhrrO8?si=qHqoxbdwLh3Dq63n Also love this movement of Nyman's 2nd quartet https://youtu.be/lFmL851qi7s?si=b-ISbowNA80Fzns7
I've listened to all of Shostakovich and Nyman, but Zarvos I've not heard of. Thank you, I'll give it a go!
David Lang - Almost all the Time / Kamran İnce - Curve / Bartok - String Quartet No. 5 / Mozart - Dissonant Quartet /
Bartók and Mozart I've covered, so I have time to look into the other half of your list :)
You can find score of lang's on issuu, for free
Two lesser known string quartets I enjoy: Joly Braga Santos String quartet op. 1, op. 4 (there's also a second one0 Franz Xaver Richter, op. 5, 1 (lots of fun to play, too; this is a series of three, I believe).
I'll check those out, thank you!
Beethoven late quartets… turn the lights and contemplate the infinite
Been there, done that! Very contemplative, indeed...
Check out the Emerson String Quartet’s recording of Bach’s The Art of Fugue.
That's an interesting suggestion, I wouldn't have thought of that... thanks!
Swedish composer Wilhelm Stenhammar wrote wonderful quartets, start here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5U4I2owIk6FD8qI1m1qBSU?si=cYhmdof4SZq8wbAnGEmGQg
Familiar name, but unfamiliar music, I believe. I'll change that!
Arnold Bax: String Quartets 1-3 (Maggini quartet is the best? Only? Recording) Ernst Moeran: String Quartets 1-2 (Maggini again is the best choice here)
I've considered trying Bax, but haven't even ever heard of Moeran. Might well change that and go with both!
A few that haven’t been mentioned yet as far as so can tell: Some of Anton Rubinstein’s quartets really slap - No 2 is particularly cool with a fugal first movement and an absolutely rocking finale. Two contemporaries of Mozart who also died tragically young were Hyacinthe Jadin and Juan Arriaga. Both wrote and published quartets that don’t suck and are impressive given the age of the composers. And Beethoven’s contemporary Spohr was an extremely accomplished quartet composer who was widely respected in his day. He wrote a shit ton of quartets, and also wrote a series of great double quartets and even at least one concerto for string quartet & orchestra - so he was well acquainted with the genre!
Very interesting and niche, thank you! I had so far skipped on Rubinstein because my 'Russian Connection' was extensive enough as is, but if he's a standout I'll be happy to make some room for him! Jadin I've never heard of, meanwhile Arriaga I've played, even, and he really is lovely. I'll add both to my list. And Spohr is, of course, rather famous. Can't say I find his music much more than 'perfectly inoffensive', but that's no reason to skip on him; I might as well listen, I think...
[Specifically this performance of Ravel’s Quartet in F.](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4BF60929B58B0487&si=9jgv6VbgfpGrMi0G)
I'll circle back around, though the Ebene recording I went with will be hard to top, I imagine ;)
I know it's one of the obvious ones, but what do you think about that? [https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/0BWiAfeQAp6VmCWXaNiF1M?si=OtKFCtQWTH2AuoJDfYyeKw](https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/0BWiAfeQAp6VmCWXaNiF1M?si=OtKFCtQWTH2AuoJDfYyeKw)
I'll soon let you know! Haydn's likely to be the next one on the list :)
-Jefferson Friedman, two quartets, No. 2 and No. 3... I especially recommend #3. -Robert Erickson has four works for the ensemble, and Corfu is my favorite. -Both of the Adams, John and John Luther, have works worth exploring. -Barber feels like an obvious hole in your list. -Florence Price has some nice works. -William Grant Still's Danzas de Panama has some nice moments, but is sort of kitschy overall.
A list of names I have no recollection of whatsoever - I'll make sure to change that, thank you!
I somehow left out Dutilleux as well, don't sleep on Ainsi La Nuit! You almost certainly know the middle mvmt of the Barber...he extracted it, adjusted it for string orchestra, and now its commonly performed as "Adagio for Strings"
Dutilleux will be added to the list, too, then :)
The Clara Schumann string quartet slaps (especially the last movement) and came to rec the Schaefer quartets, but I see you have already listened to them.
Clara has written some wonderful music, so I must listen to her quartet, too! And Schaefer was a wonderful experience; among the most impressive finds so far, to be honest.
In case nobody mentioned it anywhere else in the thread, the Richard Wetz String Quartet no. 2 is lovely. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA1dSkWsIqQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA1dSkWsIqQ)
I don't believe anybody has; thank you for the suggestion!
Shulamit Ran has 3 amazing string quartets, especially no. 3. Also check out Stacy Garrop’s String quartets, especially no. 4.
Will do, thank you!
Literally just listened to [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gumi5pEpOaA) and it floored me - he was ahead of his time. Sorry if you've already heard it. Anything by the Danish String Quartet is amazing. [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlsVuhD0AaQ) too - one of my faves.
I'm no stranger to Beethoven, but it always deserves an honorary mention :)
Here is an unusual one that was recommended to me some years back and now everyone I recommend it to falls for it. Lyle Chan was an AIDS activist and he wrote his memoir in the form of a 90-min string quartet in 15 (I think?) movements. No two of which are alike. Here’s one section. https://youtu.be/EmDcrty3e9E?si=aRZ_4pWV-BFWRrj7 And here’s the playlist for the whole thing. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ke4ECck4q6h71NNz0oijXiWB6w6TBbsHY&si=hTN6r29chgHYMoEX
That sounds fascinating, I'll definitely listen to it all - thank you very much!
Ferdinand Ries (Beethoven student) wrote 26 string quartets. There's some great recordings by Schuppanzigh Quartet. However, I don't believe all his string quartets have been recorded yet :-/
That's not an issue; the more the merrier, but I'll take it as is!
Erno Dohnanyi string quartets (and piano quartet too!)
A name I've seen in passing. Might've listened to his symphonies already, but not entirely sure. I'll make sure to check it out, thank you!
Boccherini’s Quintettino. As the name suggests it's for five, not four, but a very fun listen.
Maybe I'll 'upgrade' to quintets once the quartets run out ;)
Natacha Diels "Nightmare for JACK" is one of my absolutely favorite contemporary string quartets
I think I've seen it mentioned here before, so I might well give it a listen!
I highly recommend watching it, there's a great video on YouTube and a large theatrical element to the piece dealing with the uncanny
Georg Friedrich Haas and Salvatore Sciarrino have good sets.
Germaine Tailleferre is a women composer who has written a pretty nice string quartet Also check out Boccerini who was one of the earliest composers to write for string quartet
That's great, I'm embarrassed by the number of women on my list so far, to be quite frank, so this is a welcome addition!
I actually really like Florence Price's quartets.
She's on my list!
Tishchenko string quartet n°1
Oh, I must've missed this one; I was definitely looking for Tishchenko, because I found his symphonies to be quite interesting. Let me check again...
I don't think I saw these string quartet composers recommended yet: Fanny Hensel (née Mendelssohn) Vitezslava Kaprálová Viktor Ullmann (string quartet no. 3, his only surviving quartet)
All of them have been added to the list!
\* Philip Glass (I like the last couple ones more than the early ones). Quatour Molinari has recorded them all (I believe). If I could only take one music recording to a desert island it would definitely be Philip Glass's string quartets. \* Pavel Haas. This is a recommendation by my partner and I have no clue what he likes about it. \* Fanny Hensel (née Mendelssohn). As far as I know she wrote only one. I like the recording by Quatour Ebène. \* Laura Elise Schwendinger, as performed by JACK Quartet. \* Catherine Lamb, as performed by JACK Quartet. \* Jorg Widmann. His string quartets are listed as "Streichquartett" (at least in IDAGIO), and two of them also include a soprano, but the others don't. Recorded by the Leipziger Streichquartett. \* Unfortunately none of Caroline Shaw's pieces for string quartet are named "String Quartet", because they're so fucking gorgeous. Your loss :-) \* If you decide to open up to pieces not named "String Quartet", also check out Forbidden Love by Julia Wolfe (as performed by Sō Percussion).
I'm sure I will eventually open up to all kinds of pieces named whatever, so your list might well come in handy then :)
Then my heartiest recommendation are Caroline Shaw's pieces recorded by the Attacca Quartet that are in two albums, called Evergreen and Orange. BTW I like your idea of listening to all string quartets, or all of everything, and I wanted to try something like that. Do you listen and follow the score, or just listen? Do you take notes?
I just listen; mainly because something had to give, and I - especially with my ADD - would never be able to find the time and focus to sit down and 'watch' music for even remotely as long as I am able to listening to it while working, commuting, or running errands. So right now I've been listening to 95% classical music for about 18 months and I just rarely re-listen; every day, I'm experiencing something new. I keep track of what I'm listening to in a tidy simple Excel chart, and in the end of the year I'll do my own Spotify-Wrapped-kinda-thing, just for fun. I've done the same last year, as mentioned, and it was very entertaining, and motivating, too. E.g., I'm in the midst of writing a paper on the Eurasianist movement in music in relation to Western Orientalism, and have been listening to quartets all day while writing. "Lutoslawski 1, Cage 1, Gould 1, Kaminski 1, Kaprálová 1, Ullmann 1, Tailleferre 1, Sciarrino 8, Top 2, Bruce 1" is what I've listened to so far today. I write down more than that, but you get the gist. The only notes I take is saving my very favourite movements of things as I go to remember what I'd like to recommend to people or give another listen to myself later. It's hard to remember that after having heard 433 quartets in four months... :P
That's such a cool thing. I am not entirely sure I could do the same thing as I tend to obsess over pieces/composers and listen incessantly on repeat for days or weeks. But I always think I should be more systematic at expanding my boundaries.
Depth can be found in both vertical and horizontal exploration; don't worry about that! I listened to twenty different Prokofiev 2nd recordings when writing my thesis on the concerto and then went on and tried to listen to every recorded Prokofiev piece, period. It was very intensive and hyperfocused, the complete opposite of what I'm doing now, I feel like. I kept listening to the same pieces again and again, too, and that's also how I approach non-classical music. Just dare to try something you hadn't done before, it's much easier than you anticipate it to be :)
Here’s a page I created some years back on Facebook: will give you a chance to hear a wide range of String Quartets. Hope you find it useful: https://m.facebook.com/groups/String4tetMusic/
Thanks, I've sent in a request; hopefully I didn't answer the question wrong, that'd be embarrassing! :))
It's been a while, but if you're up for it I've discovered another composer of string quartets whose 3rd I hear is very good (but it is not available on the usual platforms yet; it was premiered only yesterday). He is Shane Woodborne and his first two quartets (in mediocre audio quality) are on YouTube.
Don't worry, it's never to late - thank you!
Apologies for breaking your second guideline: Caroline Shaw - Entr’acte (and many more pieces recorded by Attacca Quartet) John Luther Adams - The Wind in High Places (and other pieces recorded by JACK Quartet) John Cage - String Quartet in Four Parts
Rules are there to be broken - I might just circle back around to those, thank you very much :)
Try Philip Glass' string quartets (there are at least 8). I love number 5! I think some of them are not explicitly named "String Quartet no. X" though. I also listened to some very minor composers' string quartets on Youtube recently that I found sort of interesting, they are: Elias Haddad: String Quartet 1 Derek David: String Quartet 1 Stafylakis: String Quartet 3 Edward Top: String Quartet 1
The Kronos quartet *made a nice recording of Philip Glass.
Thank you, noted! I must admit that I've struggled through his symphonies and didn't enjoy Nyman's minimalism in quartet form, either, but depending on how far I want to take this whole thing I might just have to give Glass a second chance.
Yeah listening is Glass is a variable experience. I recommend starting with the one string quartet by him that’s left off the list. His soundtrack for the silent film Dracula is entirely string quartet, played by Kronos. Lots of short movements, Glass can’t meander like in the symphonies because of the visual content. Even if you don’t like a movement it’s over pretty soon. Most of is very attractive music here.
Him not being able to meander sounds exactly like what he needs in my eyes, thanks for the suggestion!
Philip Glass string quartets: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Philip_Glass#String_quartets Peter Sculthorpe: The Complete String Quartets with Didjeridu https://sonoluminuslabel.bandcamp.com/album/sculthorpe-the-complete-string-quartets-with-didjeridu
'... with Didjeridu' sounds right up my alley, I'll give it a go!
Stenhammar
You're the second to mention him, I believe, so he's definitely in :)
The Kronos quartet plays this repertoire.
I've seen their name a lot in this thread, so I'll likely encounter them at one point or another...
Schubert Complete String Quartets by Diogenes Quartet [https://open.spotify.com/album/0t5RG4YTm9t2mAo9uqeyc2](https://open.spotify.com/album/0t5RG4YTm9t2mAo9uqeyc2) Beethoven The String Quartets by Emerson String Quartet [https://open.spotify.com/album/4Eo2TMQecI3d2Uwcj6VHrJ](https://open.spotify.com/album/4Eo2TMQecI3d2Uwcj6VHrJ) Bartok, ditto [https://open.spotify.com/album/4sK9X6z0sh5mzvfZe26dWv](https://open.spotify.com/album/4sK9X6z0sh5mzvfZe26dWv) Shostakovitch, ditto [https://open.spotify.com/album/2KKcrsTpvh66b2NdWkHLp4](https://open.spotify.com/album/2KKcrsTpvh66b2NdWkHLp4)
I like Guarneri for Beethoven, but Emerson is also good.
Heard and enjoyed all of them - Bartók was especially impressive: no misses, as far as I remember!
Apart from Shostakovich's many string quartets, which I'm sure you know already, I like both of these: - Richter's Infra. - David Bruce's "The Lick" quartet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWEgOaoYUPM)
Haven't heard of either, and will make sure to check them out, thanks!
Jāzeps Vītols (Joseph Wihtol) - String Quartet in G major
No idea who that is, and I mean this most positively! Thank you, I'll write it down!
He is one of Latvia's best composers, and we really love his music here
That makes me rather curious, it's a promising statement!
I'd recommend you check out his choral ballades "Gaismas pils", "Beverīnas dziedonis" and "Karaļmeita". He also has a symphony and a piano sonata. A popular piano piece of his is "Viļnu dziesma" (Song of the Waves). Jānis Mediņš has a collection of 24 dainas (preludes), but he also has a piano concerto in C# minor. He also has orchestral suites, the most famous of which is his first suite's second movement - Aria. He also has 2 cello concertos and a good opera called "Uguns un nakts", which you can find a performance of on YouTube. If you want more orchestral pieces, you can check out Andrejs Jurjāns' Concerto elegiaco for cello in E minor, Symphonic allegro, Suite "Latvian Dances" and his cantatas "Tēvijai" and "Līgojiet, līksmojiet" I'd also recommend Jānis Ivanovs' 21 symphonies, especially no. 4 titled "Atlantis" and also his impressionist style symphonic poem "Varavīksne". He also has a piano concerto in D minor, a violin concerto in E minor, and a cello concerto in B minor. Also, another good Latvian piano concerto is Lūcija Garūta's Piano Concerto in F# minor. Hope these pieces will be to your pleasure!
What a comprehensive list - I'll try my best to do it justice!
Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8
A well-deserved classic!