Schumann String Quartets

[Alan Cooper]

I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about
ideal to me. (Ditto the New Music Quartet recording of two of the
quartets.) Lately I've been poking around, trying to find more recent
recordings that I might enjoy. The Ysaye, St. Lawrence, Cherubini,
and Eroica recordings left me cold. Technically fine for the most
part, but not sufficiently mercurial and passionate to convey what I
want to hear in the music. I've heard good things about the Auryn
Quartet, but wasn't able to turn up a copy easily.

The two best recordings that I did get to hear were the by the Hagen
on DG (##2 and 3 only--#1 is coupled with the Piano Quintet on another
CD that I didn't buy), and the Lark on Arabesque (##1 and 3). The
Hagen performances are more Mendelssohnian--light and speedy,
sometimes verging on slapdash (esp. the finale of #3), but a relief
from the relative anonymity of most recordings..The Lark Quartet, a
group that was new to me, was the surprise of the bunch: big, emphatic
performances generating lots of energy and excitement. The respective
performance styles of the two quartets complement each other well, I
think: each one casts the music in a fresh light, and I'm happy to
have both of them.

But it would be awfully nice to have the Juilliard on CD . . . .

AC

[Matthew B. Tepper]

Post by Alan Cooper
I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about ideal
to me. (Ditto the New Music Quartet recording of two of the quartets.)
Lately I've been poking around, trying to find more recent recordings
that I might enjoy. The Ysaye, St. Lawrence, Cherubini, and Eroica
recordings left me cold. Technically fine for the most part, but not
sufficiently mercurial and passionate to convey what I want to hear in
the music. I've heard good things about the Auryn Quartet, but wasn't
able to turn up a copy easily.
The two best recordings that I did get to hear were the by the Hagen on
DG (##2 and 3 only--#1 is coupled with the Piano Quintet on another CD
that I didn't buy), and the Lark on Arabesque (##1 and 3). The Hagen
performances are more Mendelssohnian--light and speedy, sometimes verging
on slapdash (esp. the finale of #3), but a relief from the relative
anonymity of most recordings..The Lark Quartet, a group that was new to
me, was the surprise of the bunch: big, emphatic performances generating
lots of energy and excitement. The respective performance styles of the
two quartets complement each other well, I think: each one casts the
music in a fresh light, and I'm happy to have both of them.

There's the Flonzaley Quartet in #1 on Biddulph LAB 072-73. But didn't the
Quartetto Italiano ever record them? Or am I thinking of their Brahms?

Post by Alan Cooper
But it would be awfully nice to have the Juilliard on CD . . . .

Pour some cold water over Mr. Ditherwick to wake him up.

[Paul Ilechko]

But didn't the Quartetto Italiano ever record them?
Or am I thinking of their Brahms?

I try to avoid thinking of their Brahms !

[Philip Peters]

Post by Matthew B. Tepper
There's the Flonzaley Quartet in #1 on Biddulph LAB 072-73. But didn't the
Quartetto Italiano ever record them? Or am I thinking of their Brahms?

Originally both were available as a boxed set of LPs.
To my own surprise the exceptionally eerie Italians' op.41(1) is still
my favourite recording.

Philip (who hasn't heard the Flonzaley and needs to, is it still in print?)
.

Post by Matthew B. Tepper
Pour some cold water over Mr. Ditherwick to wake him up.

[Alan Cooper]

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 16:44:14 GMT, "Matthew B. Tepper"

Post by Matthew B. Tepper
There's the Flonzaley Quartet in #1 on Biddulph LAB 072-73. But didn't the
Quartetto Italiano ever record them? Or am I thinking of their Brahms?

I used to have the Italiano Schumann as well as their Brahms on LP.
(They might even have been packaged together.) Didn't particularly
like either of them, so I deaccessioned them long ago. I do have the
Flonzaley 41/1 on Biddulph and like it very much. Also the Capet
(same label) and the 1951 Hungarian Quartet (M&A) in the same
work--also characterful and enjoyable performances. I gather that the
other two quartets were not performed as frequently in the old days,
but I do have the Lener's fine 41/3 on Rockport CD. None of these
would be included among the "more recent" recordings that I was
seeking.

AC

[Simon Roberts]

Post by Alan Cooper
I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about
ideal to me. (Ditto the New Music Quartet recording of two of the
quartets.) Lately I've been poking around, trying to find more recent
recordings that I might enjoy. The Ysaye, St. Lawrence, Cherubini,
and Eroica recordings left me cold. Technically fine for the most
part, but not sufficiently mercurial and passionate to convey what I
want to hear in the music. I've heard good things about the Auryn
Quartet, but wasn't able to turn up a copy easily.

I suspect you will find it insufficiently mercurial and passionate too.

Post by Alan Cooper
The two best recordings that I did get to hear were the by the Hagen
on DG (##2 and 3 only--#1 is coupled with the Piano Quintet on another
CD that I didn't buy), and the Lark on Arabesque (##1 and 3). The
Hagen performances are more Mendelssohnian--light and speedy,
sometimes verging on slapdash (esp. the finale of #3), but a relief
from the relative anonymity of most recordings.

You should try the other disc too - not just for the quartet but for a first
movement of the piano quintet that's probably not like any you've heard (it's
much faster than any other I've encountered and gives a quite different
impression of the music).

[snip]

Post by Alan Cooper
But it would be awfully nice to have the Juilliard on CD . . . .

True.

Have you tried the Zehetmair recording on ECM? Two quartets only,
unfortunately, but far more imaginative than most of what's out there.

Simon

[Alan Cooper]

Post by Simon Roberts
Have you tried the Zehetmair recording on ECM? Two quartets only,
unfortunately, but far more imaginative than most of what's out there.

Haven't heard it. Thanks for the recommendation.

AC

[Alan Cooper]

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 21:57:35 -0500, Alan Cooper

Post by Alan Cooper

Post by Simon Roberts
Have you tried the Zehetmair recording on ECM? Two quartets only,
unfortunately, but far more imaginative than most of what's out there.

Haven't heard it. Thanks for the recommendation.

Update: SE reports that I posted a negative comment about the
Zehetmair recording on rmcr two years ago. I have no recollection of
having heard it, but I must have. I'll bet that sort of thing never
happens to my fellow collectors (accumulaters) :-)

AC

[Steve Molino]

Post by Alan Cooper
On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 21:57:35 -0500, Alan Cooper
Update: SE reports that I posted a negative comment about the
Zehetmair recording on rmcr two years ago. I have no recollection of
having heard it, but I must have.

Well, it is that memorable! :o)

(P.S. I didn't retain it either)

[Simon Roberts]

Post by Alan Cooper
On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 21:57:35 -0500, Alan Cooper

Post by Alan Cooper

Post by Simon Roberts
Have you tried the Zehetmair recording on ECM? Two quartets only,
unfortunately, but far more imaginative than most of what's out there.

Haven't heard it. Thanks for the recommendation.

Update: SE reports that I posted a negative comment about the
Zehetmair recording on rmcr two years ago. I have no recollection of
having heard it, but I must have. I'll bet that sort of thing never
happens to my fellow collectors (accumulaters) :-)

I know I've at least once bought something from PRE that I had previously sold
them and completely forgotten about, only to remember both the performance and
why I had ditched it as soon as I started listening to it again....

Simon

[Steve Molino]

Post by Alan Cooper
I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about
ideal to me. (Ditto the New Music Quartet recording of two of the
quartets.) Lately I've been poking around, trying to find more recent
recordings that I might enjoy. The Ysaye, St. Lawrence, Cherubini,
and Eroica recordings left me cold. Technically fine for the most
part, but not sufficiently mercurial and passionate to convey what I
want to hear in the music. I've heard good things about the Auryn
Quartet, but wasn't able to turn up a copy easily.

If you want more mercurial than the Ysaye (a set I enjoy rather a lot), then
the Auryn will not be for you. They sounded a bit sluggish to me, not a lot
of spirit. I like the Lark too, and also would hope for one day the
Juilliards being on CD.

[Matthew B. Tepper]

Post by Steve Molino
If you want more mercurial than the Ysaye (a set I enjoy rather a lot),
then the Auryn will not be for you. They sounded a bit sluggish to me,
not a lot of spirit. I like the Lark too, and also would hope for one
day the Juilliards being on CD.

Anybody have timings for the Juilliards?

[Lena]

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Steve Molino
If you want more mercurial than the Ysaye (a set I enjoy rather a lot),
then the Auryn will not be for you. They sounded a bit sluggish to me,
not a lot of spirit. I like the Lark too, and also would hope for one
day the Juilliards being on CD.

Anybody have timings for the Juilliards?

41/1/i 9:27
4:05
6:54
6:32

41/2/i 5:30
8:26
3:10
4:41

41/3/i 7:07
7:11
9:30
7:07


Lena

[Matthew B. Tepper]

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Steve Molino
If you want more mercurial than the Ysaye (a set I enjoy rather a
lot), then the Auryn will not be for you. They sounded a bit
sluggish to me, not a lot of spirit. I like the Lark too, and also
would hope for one day the Juilliards being on CD.

Anybody have timings for the Juilliards?

41/1/i 9:27
4:05
6:54
6:32
41/2/i 5:30
8:26
3:10
4:41
41/3/i 7:07
7:11
9:30
7:07
Lena

Thanks, and ouch! That's pushing the limit of the (standard,
safely-burned) CD-Aaarrr.

[Don Rice]

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Steve Molino
If you want more mercurial than the Ysaye (a set I enjoy rather a
lot), then the Auryn will not be for you. They sounded a bit
sluggish to me, not a lot of spirit. I like the Lark too, and also
would hope for one day the Juilliards being on CD.

Anybody have timings for the Juilliards?

41/1/i 9:27
4:05
6:54
6:32
41/2/i 5:30
8:26
3:10
4:41
41/3/i 7:07
7:11
9:30
7:07
Lena

Thanks, and ouch! That's pushing the limit of the (standard,
safely-burned) CD-Aaarrr.

They actually just fit on an 80 minute cd-r, with reasonable pauses.
(Or they did fit a couple of years ago. ;-)

[Matthew B. Tepper]

Post by Don Rice

Post by Matthew B. Tepper
Thanks, and ouch! That's pushing the limit of the (standard,
safely-burned) CD-Aaarrr.

They actually just fit on an 80 minute cd-r, with reasonable pauses.
(Or they did fit a couple of years ago. ;-)

I think we should correspond more. ;--)

[Lena]

Post by Don Rice

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Steve Molino
If you want more mercurial than the Ysaye (a set I enjoy rather a
lot), then the Auryn will not be for you. They sounded a bit
sluggish to me, not a lot of spirit. I like the Lark too, and also
would hope for one day the Juilliards being on CD.

Anybody have timings for the Juilliards?

41/1/i 9:27
4:05
6:54
6:32
41/2/i 5:30
8:26
3:10
4:41
41/3/i 7:07
7:11
9:30
7:07
Lena

Thanks, and ouch! That's pushing the limit of the (standard,
safely-burned) CD-Aaarrr.

They actually just fit on an 80 minute cd-r, with reasonable pauses.
(Or they did fit a couple of years ago. ;-)

So it seems. :):)

Lena

[Don Rice]

Post by Lena

Post by Don Rice

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Steve Molino
If you want more mercurial than the Ysaye (a set I enjoy rather a
lot), then the Auryn will not be for you. They sounded a bit
sluggish to me, not a lot of spirit. I like the Lark too, and also
would hope for one day the Juilliards being on CD.

Anybody have timings for the Juilliards?

41/1/i 9:27
4:05
6:54
6:32
41/2/i 5:30
8:26
3:10
4:41
41/3/i 7:07
7:11
9:30
7:07
Lena

Thanks, and ouch! That's pushing the limit of the (standard,
safely-burned) CD-Aaarrr.

They actually just fit on an 80 minute cd-r, with reasonable pauses.
(Or they did fit a couple of years ago. ;-)

So it seems. :):)
Lena

I have noticed that, lately, things that used to fit well a couple of
years ago, no longer have the "waistroom" they used to. I am hopeful
that this capacity problem doesn't apply to any individual recording.
The capacity problem definitely applies as the number of recordings I
have grows. Pity I can't do to my waist what I do to superfluous
recordings.....
Don

[d***@aol.com]

Don Rice,

Please E-mail me. Merci donc.

-david gable

[Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim]

Post by Don Rice

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Matthew B. Tepper

Post by Steve Molino
If you want more mercurial than the Ysaye (a set I enjoy rather a
lot), then the Auryn will not be for you. They sounded a bit
sluggish to me, not a lot of spirit. I like the Lark too, and also
would hope for one day the Juilliards being on CD.

Anybody have timings for the Juilliards?

41/1/i 9:27
4:05
6:54
6:32
41/2/i 5:30
8:26
3:10
4:41
41/3/i 7:07
7:11
9:30
7:07
Lena

Thanks, and ouch! That's pushing the limit of the (standard,
safely-burned) CD-Aaarrr.

They actually just fit on an 80 minute cd-r, with reasonable pauses.
(Or they did fit a couple of years ago. ;-)
--
Don Rice
To email me, place a "1" between the "Don" and the "Rice"
don1rice

Thanx to their snappy tempos, the Juilliards' Op 41 fits like a glove on one
CD: 79:23. Aaarrr, mateys.

Russ (not Martha)

[Matthew B. Tepper]

Post by Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim
Thanx to their snappy tempos, the Juilliards' Op 41 fits like a glove on
one CD: 79:23. Aaarrr, mateys.

And the three Beethoven Violin Sonatas (## 1, 7, & 10) which Szigeti and
Horszowski recorded together which were not reissued on CD by Sony (## 5
and 6) fit on a single CD with room to spare. Aaarrr, as soon as I'm able
to notch-filter out a hum that apparently got in at the LP mastering stage.

[Paul Ilechko]

Post by Steve Molino
If you want more mercurial than the Ysaye (a set I enjoy rather a lot), then
the Auryn will not be for you. They sounded a bit sluggish to me, not a lot
of spirit. I like the Lark too, and also would hope for one day the
Juilliards being on CD.

Just picked up the Lark at my last trip to PREX (curiously they had both
new and user version for the same price - $8.99), it really is quite good.

[OhBoy]

Isn't the Zehetmaier Quartet recording on ECM the standard since a year or
so ago? Nrs. 1 and 3. It is the only one that I have, so I can't compare.

RJ

Post by Alan Cooper
I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about
ideal to me. (Ditto the New Music Quartet recording of two of the
quartets.) Lately I've been poking around, trying to find more recent
recordings that I might enjoy. The Ysaye, St. Lawrence, Cherubini,
and Eroica recordings left me cold. Technically fine for the most
part, but not sufficiently mercurial and passionate to convey what I
want to hear in the music. I've heard good things about the Auryn
Quartet, but wasn't able to turn up a copy easily.
The two best recordings that I did get to hear were the by the Hagen
on DG (##2 and 3 only--#1 is coupled with the Piano Quintet on another
CD that I didn't buy), and the Lark on Arabesque (##1 and 3). The
Hagen performances are more Mendelssohnian--light and speedy,
sometimes verging on slapdash (esp. the finale of #3), but a relief
from the relative anonymity of most recordings..The Lark Quartet, a
group that was new to me, was the surprise of the bunch: big, emphatic
performances generating lots of energy and excitement. The respective
performance styles of the two quartets complement each other well, I
think: each one casts the music in a fresh light, and I'm happy to
have both of them.
But it would be awfully nice to have the Juilliard on CD . . . .
AC

[Philip Peters]

Post by OhBoy
Isn't the Zehetmaier Quartet recording on ECM the standard since a year or
so ago? Nrs. 1 and 3. It is the only one that I have, so I can't compare.
RJ

I like the Zehetmair almost as much as the Italians in the first and
even more in the third quartet. But I have a special affection for the
first quartet.

Philip

Post by OhBoy

Post by Alan Cooper
I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about
ideal to me. (Ditto the New Music Quartet recording of two of the
quartets.) Lately I've been poking around, trying to find more recent
recordings that I might enjoy. The Ysaye, St. Lawrence, Cherubini,
and Eroica recordings left me cold. Technically fine for the most
part, but not sufficiently mercurial and passionate to convey what I
want to hear in the music. I've heard good things about the Auryn
Quartet, but wasn't able to turn up a copy easily.
The two best recordings that I did get to hear were the by the Hagen
on DG (##2 and 3 only--#1 is coupled with the Piano Quintet on another
CD that I didn't buy), and the Lark on Arabesque (##1 and 3). The
Hagen performances are more Mendelssohnian--light and speedy,
sometimes verging on slapdash (esp. the finale of #3), but a relief
from the relative anonymity of most recordings..The Lark Quartet, a
group that was new to me, was the surprise of the bunch: big, emphatic
performances generating lots of energy and excitement. The respective
performance styles of the two quartets complement each other well, I
think: each one casts the music in a fresh light, and I'm happy to
have both of them.
But it would be awfully nice to have the Juilliard on CD . . . .
AC

[Paul Goldstein]

Post by OhBoy
Isn't the Zehetmaier Quartet recording on ECM the standard since a year or
so ago? Nrs. 1 and 3. It is the only one that I have, so I can't compare.

It has gotten a lot of praise, but I found the sound terrible and didn't keep
it.

[Steve Emerson]

Post by OhBoy
Isn't the Zehetmaier Quartet recording on ECM the standard since a year or
so ago? Nrs. 1 and 3. It is the only one that I have, so I can't compare.

A lot of people do seem to like it, but it didn't do much for me. A
couple of other people agreed with me the last time it came up,
including I think Alan, the original poster.

I agree with most of Alan's comments -- the Lark disc has been a great
favorite of mine for a couple of years, and the Juilliard set is pretty
nearly without peer. I guess I should revisit the Hagen sometime (i.e.
buy the disc again). It struck me as not at all what I think of as
Schumann; but a lot of that impression may have come from the quintet.

I like the Auryn and I certainly think it has more vitality than the
Zehetmair, but as a couple of other people suggest, Alan may not find it
sufficiently aggressive.

The Lark -- like a number of other quartets -- should really have
recorded #2 as well as 1 and 3. Perhaps to make up for it, one quartet,
the New Vlach, has recorded #2 and not the others...

The Petersen recording of one or two of the works disappointed me a
little, although the Grieg coupling is tremendous.

SE.

[Stephen Green]

Where did you find Schumann quartets payed by the New Music String Quartet?
I've seen Mendelssohn, but not Schumann...

Stephen

Post by Alan Cooper
I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about
ideal to me. (Ditto the New Music Quartet recording of two of the
quartets.) Lately I've been poking around, trying to find more recent
recordings that I might enjoy. The Ysaye, St. Lawrence, Cherubini,
and Eroica recordings left me cold. Technically fine for the most
part, but not sufficiently mercurial and passionate to convey what I
want to hear in the music. I've heard good things about the Auryn
Quartet, but wasn't able to turn up a copy easily.
The two best recordings that I did get to hear were the by the Hagen
on DG (##2 and 3 only--#1 is coupled with the Piano Quintet on another
CD that I didn't buy), and the Lark on Arabesque (##1 and 3). The
Hagen performances are more Mendelssohnian--light and speedy,
sometimes verging on slapdash (esp. the finale of #3), but a relief
from the relative anonymity of most recordings..The Lark Quartet, a
group that was new to me, was the surprise of the bunch: big, emphatic
performances generating lots of energy and excitement. The respective
performance styles of the two quartets complement each other well, I
think: each one casts the music in a fresh light, and I'm happy to
have both of them.
But it would be awfully nice to have the Juilliard on CD . . . .
AC

[Alan Cooper]

On Sun, 8 Jan 2006 15:36:40 -0800, "Stephen Green"

Post by Stephen Green
Where did you find Schumann quartets payed by the New Music String Quartet?
I've seen Mendelssohn, but not Schumann...
Stephen

The NMQ recorded ##2 and 3, and if you would like to hear them,
contact our friend Russ Oppenheim.

AC

[Vaneyes]

Post by Alan Cooper
I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about
ideal to me. (Ditto the New Music Quartet recording of two of the
quartets.) Lately I've been poking around, trying to find more recent
recordings that I might enjoy. The Ysaye, St. Lawrence, Cherubini,
and Eroica recordings left me cold. Technically fine for the most
part, but not sufficiently mercurial and passionate to convey what I
want to hear in the music. I've heard good things about the Auryn
Quartet, but wasn't able to turn up a copy easily.

It's Auryn for me. Passionate from the opening notes, and mercurial
enough to get SQs 1 -3 on one CD. The Tacet sound is reference.

Regards

[j***@aol.com]

Post by Alan Cooper
I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about
ideal to me. (Ditto the New Music Quartet recording of two of the
quartets.) Lately I've been poking around, trying to find more recent
recordings that I might enjoy. The Ysaye, St. Lawrence, Cherubini,
and Eroica recordings left me cold. Technically fine for the most
part, but not sufficiently mercurial and passionate to convey what I
want to hear in the music. I've heard good things about the Auryn
Quartet, but wasn't able to turn up a copy easily.
AC

I picked up the Cherubini set recently and was pleased to find they had
more life than the Eroica, but that's saying next to nothing.

--Jeff

[Gene Poon]

Post by Alan Cooper
I got to know these wonderful works by means of the Juilliard Quartet
recordings (still unavailable on CD), which still seem just about
ideal to me...
...it would be awfully nice to have the Juilliard on CD . . . .

Isn't THAT the truth?

Sometimes I marvel why this should be so, and have to conclude that as
in time immemorial, the classical departments of the record companies
would rather issue the a compilation of Wagner's Loudest Hits for
Orchestra or the 97th version of Beethoven's Fifth, all played by the
Pseudonymous Orchestra of Southeastern Croatia, conducted by U.
Neverheardofme.

Chamber music just seems to fall into Never-never land, at times.

Playing LPs of music that has never seen CD, and preserving those LPs to
the best of my ability, are more good reasons to keep my turntable,
tonearm and cartridge in top form.

-GP (Brahms Piano Trio Op. 8 playing in the background, a chamber music
warhorse if ever there was one. But I love it!)

[Matthew B. Tepper]

Gene Poon <***@ap.net> appears to
have caused the following letters to be typed in news:GPuwf.3$_J6.339

Sometimes I marvel why this should be so, and have to conclude that as in
time immemorial, the classical departments of the record companies would
rather issue the a compilation of Wagner's Loudest Hits for Orchestra or
the 97th version of Beethoven's Fifth, all played by the Pseudonymous
Orchestra of Southeastern Croatia, conducted by U. Neverheardofme.

Actually, they would rather issue Yet Another "Four Seasons" by Sexy
Hotshot of the Month, or some pop singer trying to warble opera arias.

Chamber music just seems to fall into Never-never land, at times.

Boston Symphony Chamber Players, anyone?

Playing LPs of music that has never seen CD, and preserving those LPs to
the best of my ability, are more good reasons to keep my turntable,
tonearm and cartridge in top form.

Also a good reason to buy some good audio restoration software (ClickRepair
is wonderful!), and a good CD burner, and ... lots of CD envelopes so you
can trade with your friends.

-GP (Brahms Piano Trio Op. 8 playing in the background, a chamber music
warhorse if ever there was one. But I love it!)

[d***@aol.com]

The only Schumann quartet recordings I've got on CD are private
transfers of the Juilliard and New Music Quartet recordings, so I can't
help you.

-david gable