Brian Ferneyhough 1

Brian Ferneyhough (Composer), Arditti String Quartet (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Arditti String Quartet
• Composer: Brian Ferneyhough
• Audio CD (July 1, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Disques Montaigne
• ASIN: B0000DETE4
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,222,873 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. String Quartet No. 2

2. Adagissimo for string quartet

3. String Quartet No. 3: Movement 1

4. String Quartet No. 3: Movement 2

5. Sonatas for string quartet

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Ferneyhough's "Fast and Furious" string quartets, July 18, 2011

By 

R. Hutchinson "autonomeus" (a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brian Ferneyhough 1 (Audio CD)

These are May 1989 recordings by the Arditti Quartet at the Abbey Road studios in London, in the presence of the composer. The Montaigne disc was first released in 1994. Ferneyhough has since written three more quartets, and the Ardittis have recorded only the Fourth, so I believe a new set is due any time -- perhaps on Aeon, where the Arditti Quartet seems to be doing much of its recording these days?

What we have here are:

"Sonatas for String Quartet" (1967 -- 41'05),
"Second String Quartet" (1980 -- 9'48)
and
"Third String Quartet" (1987 -- 16'41),
plus
"Adagissimo for String Quartet" (1983 -- 1'47).

The early "Sonatas" is a complex ensemble of 24 short sections, ranging from 20 seconds to over three minutes in length. The inspiration was Purcell's "Fantasias," but I'll bet Purcell would be astounded! It is a compelling odyssey, and it is clear why this launched Ferneyhough's composing career. It does not yet have the fearsome speed and complexity he would later become notorious for, and is thus a good place for a new listener to begin. It follows naturally from Webern.

The Second and Third Quartets are astonishingly fast and dense! I was quite put off by them when I first listened to this disc in 2001 or so. Though they have grown on me, the Third quartet still wears me out. Both were premiered by the Arditti Quartet, and the Ardittis have continued their close relationship with Ferneyhough until today. The liner notes offer little in the way of explanation -- the listener must simply strap in and enjoy the ride!

I don't find this disc to be as compelling as the 2005 ensemble recherche set on Stradivarius, which I would recommend as the best introduction to Ferneyhough. But it is the only recording of these crucial string quartets, among the most important of the late 20th century, so in that respect it is essential!

(verified purchase from the new defunct Tower Records)