Arnold Schoenberg: Early and Unknown String Works

Rangzen Quartet & Strings, Christina Fong | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: February 13, 2007
• Label: OgreOgress productions
• Copyright: (C) 2006 Ogreogress Productions
• Genres: Classical/Chamber Music, Classical/Historical Periods/Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
• ASIN: B001OFATHY
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Schoenberg, Early & Unknown String Works, November 28, 2008

By 

William Taylor (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Early and Unknown String Works (DVD Audio)

Schoenberg's string chamber music (the four numbered quartets, the early D major quartet, and the late string trio) includes some of the twentieth century's most significant compositions--think of the impact of the second quartet, for example. Schoenberg's estate, mostly held in the Schoenberg Center in Vienna, contains a number of early works, fragments and torsos that, while often referred to in discussions of the composer's music, have mostly remained unperformed. This hi-rez recording brings all this music to life, from the stuttering early waltzes to Schoenberg's thematic ideas for a projected fifth quartet, the chronological ordering enabling the listener to overhear the composer in his workshop. An inspired project that only an independent company would undertake, graced by strong, confident performances and that tactile 96/24 sound (is there a hi-rez recording of one of the numbered quartets?). Severine Neff's judicious liner notes complete a fascinating album that throws new light on Schoenberg's musical evolution.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Schoenberg's Connection With His Past, November 28, 2008

By 

frankp93 "frankp93" (Connecticut United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Early and Unknown String Works (DVD Audio)

For all of the "bad boy of modern music" reputation that saddled Schoenberg, particularly in his native Vienna, the composer insisted throughout his life that his work was not a total break with the past, but rather an inevitable progression and extension of many of its ideas and techniques.

This recording features a selection of pieces and fragments written in Schoenberg's earliest years as a composer and, importantly, an amateur player of the cello and viola. Schoenberg was not a conservatory-bred composer, but began by imitating the pieces in his lessons and those he performed with friends. Popular waltzes, folk tunes, and the Romantic repertoire of the day inspired him in these largely self-taught efforts.

The works are performed beautifully and, ironically I suspect, with far greater expertise than Schoenberg and his pals could ever have dreamt of at the time. But the value in hearing these pieces - aside from their straightforward musicality - is they provide at least a window, however speculative, into the man's connection to tradition and understanding of what it meant to be a musician of his time.

A minor but important point to note is the format of this recording is an audio DVD. If you want to listen on a CD player, you'll need something like Cinematize to extract the tracks to CD.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fong Plays Schonberg!!!, December 3, 2008

By 

Jeff Redmond (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Early and Unknown String Works (DVD Audio)

The Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra's very own Christina Fong has once again excelled, along with the Rangzen Quartet and Strings. Whereas the Austrian composer Arnold Schonberg is widely known throughout the classical music world, his early works are not so much so. This Audio DVD is not just a joy and delight to listen to. It is a wonderful opportunity to hear and experience Schonberg's hitherto unknown compositions. This truly remarkable production is most definitely a collector's item! Experience and enjoy..... {:-)