The String Quartet: Part 2
The String Quartet: Part 2
INCLUDES: Links to 8 two hour length videos plus YouTube links to all the musical examples.
STRING QUARTET PART 2—20TH CENTURY QUARTETS
You will be astonished at the sonic possibilities of just four string instruments playing together. 8 Zoom sessions on 20th century string quartets go on a journey from Vienna to Hungary to Russia and America. The string quartet proved to be an ideal ensemble for 20th century composers to explore the new sounds and textures after the collapse of tonality. We begin with the quartets of the 2nd Viennese School—Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg. Then on to the 5th quartet of Bela Bartok, whose string quartets were arguably the finest and most original examples since Beethoven’s late quartets. Then on to Shostakovich and his deeply admired 8th quartet. From there, choices become personal because there are just too many great 20th quartets to cover. From there on to the post World War II European composers Ligeti and Dutilleux. And finally to America, beginning with George Crumb’s Vietnam War memorial masterpiece, Black Angels and on to Ben Johnston’s Amazing Grace quartet and Steve Reich’s Different Trains. We conclude the series with the 3rd and 4th quartets of my teacher Leon Kirchner, plus my own first and second string quartets. From there we’ll look back at far we have come since Haydn started the whole game! And look forward to the string quartet’s continuing resilience in the 21st century.
SESSION 1 2nd Viennese School ATONALITY
Anton Webern 5 pieces for String Quartet
Alban Berg Op. 3, op. 25 Lyric Suite
Arnold Schoenberg String Quartet No. 2, No. 4
SESSION 2—Bartok
Bartok Quartets overview
String Quartet No. 5
SESSION 3—Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3
String Quartet No. 8
SESSION 4—Ligeti and Dutilleux
Gyorgy Ligeti String Quartet 2
Henri Dutilleux Ainsi la Nuit
SESSION 5—Crumb
George Crumb Black Angels
SESSION 6—Ben Johnston
Ben Johnston String Quartets No. 4 Amazing Grace, No. 10
SESSION 7—Minimal School
Steve Reich Different Trains
Philip Glass, String Quartet No. 5
SESSION 8—Leon Kirchner and American Expressionism
Leon Kirchner String Quartets 3 and 4