Schulhoff was a prolific and versatile musician equally at ease
in jazzy works as well as in quite more serious ones throughout
his all-too-short composing life that was cut off abruptly in
Wülzburg concentration camp in Bavaria. He was also a fine
pianist who composed a good deal for his instrument. Incidentally,
it was he who gave the first performance of Elizabeth Maconchy's
Piano Concertino just before the outbreak of World War
II. He composed five works for string quartet including two
substantial and fairly advanced string quartets, a Divertimento
for string quartet and the Five Pieces for String Quartet
that are probably among his best known and most popular pieces,
and quite deservedly so, I would say, for this delightful piece
is attractive, full of surprises and of unexpected twists and
turns. Above all, there is a mild sense of irony, too, that
makes this short work irresistible.
Webern's Langsamer Satz of 1905 is probably the best
known among his early works, were it only because it has been
frequently recorded. The music may still be a far cry from what
the mature Webern was to do but the composer succeeded in writing
unusually lyrical music though held under strict control so
that the music already manages to achieve some personal utterance
without falling back on early models inherited, say, from Brahms.
Jaan Rääts' Concerto for Chamber Orchestra Op.16
was composed in 1961. It is a very attractive work which is
heard here in a deftly made arrangement for string quartet by
Mihkel Kerem. I must admit that I had never heard the piece
before either in its original scoring or its version for string
quartet, so that I approached it unprejudiced. The piece is
in five compact movements, more or less connected in pairs whereas
the final one recapitulates material from the preceding movements.
The music is full of energy, light hearted and unambiguous,
going straight to the point without any undue fuss. I must suppose
that the version for string quartet faithfully reflects the
original and has probably got the composer's approval. Anyway,
I enjoyed it enormously and I look forward to hearing it in
its original guise as well as other works by Rääts.
Pēteris Vasks' Fourth String Quartet is no stranger to
the catalogue since it has been recorded by the Kronos Quartet
that commissioned it and gave the first performance. It is an
substantial work from the composer's mature years and, as such,
it displays a number of characteristics that one has now come
to regard as Vasks fingerprints, a.o. allusion to or borrowing
from folk songs, bird songs (mostly stylised) and the like that
often tend to reflect on what life has been in Latvia during
the Soviet era. Vasks' music is often tense and troubled building
to shattering climaxes although it allows for quieter, more
reflective moments of great beauty that some might think redolent
of Pärt, but I for one am not convinced by this rather
too superficial judgement. Vasks' slow music has none of Pärt's
Minimalism and possesses some obsessive tension often absent
in Pärt's music. I of course admit that others may disagree.
Anyway, Vasks' Fourth String Quartet is one of his finest achievements
along some of his works for strings and his symphonies. All
these works are deeply felt and honest and obviously expressing
intimate and strongly personal feelings.
The Prezioso String Quartet was launched in 2006 by four young
Estonian string players, all graduates from the Estonian Academy
of Music and Theatre. All four members are currently playing
in the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. This is their first
disc ever and the varied programme undoubtedly convey a fair
idea both of their technique and of their musicality. Their
commitment is unquestionable in the four works that they chose
as their “calling card”. I also found it a good
idea to choose a fairly unusual programme for their début
recording rather than some war horses that would have placed
them in severe competition. I believe that they have plenty
of time before committing great classical string quartets to
disc, the more so that this first disc clearly displays their
natural affinity with various aspects of contemporary music.
So, in short, I most enjoyed both the programme and the convincing
and carefully prepared performances by a young ensemble that
clearly believes in what it plays. I look forward to hearing
more from them soon.
Hubert Culot
Prezioso String Quartet 