Chamber Music Vol. 1 - String Quartet No. 1; Conversations for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello

Arthur Bliss (Artist), Nicholas Daniel (Artist), Michael Cox (Artist), Maggini Quartet (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Maggini Quartet
• Audio CD (November 19, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B000069CV0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,147 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rarely heard Bliss, January 20, 2003

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J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chamber Music Vol. 1 - String Quartet No. 1; Conversations for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello (Audio CD)

Bliss, probably best known for his 'Colour Symphony' and the ballet, 'Checkmate', was master of the Queen's Music from 1953 until his death in 1975. He is often said to write in a late-Elgarian mold, and indeed his early String Quartet in A, composed in 1914, has Elgarian overtones. But there is a tinge of French impressionism as well. It is played here with real élan by the well-regarded Maggini Quartet. The second movement seems influenced by the still-popular folk-song movement of the time.

'Conversations for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello' is altogether lighter descriptive music, and more Milhaud than Elgar. The titles of the individual movements give some idea of this: 'The Committee Meeting' wherein the chairman [violin] keeps trying to establish order, bucolic 'In the Wood', mildly jazzy 'In the Ballroom', Soliloquy' [for solo cor anglais], and the ragtimey 'In the Tube of Oxford Circus.' It is not surprising that the work's première took place in a concert along with music of Tailleferre, Milhaud, and Poulenc. It would have fit right in that group from 'Les Six.'

The First String Quartet in B flat, from thirty years after the Quartet in A and in a rather astringent harmonic language, was written in America in the early years of World War II and given its première in Berkeley. Most striking is the second movement with its asymmetrical rhythms.

Another recommendable CD from Naxos, which seems to go from triumph to triumph.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine music in excellent performances, August 29, 2009

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G.D. (Norway) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chamber Music Vol. 1 - String Quartet No. 1; Conversations for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello (Audio CD)

Arthur Bliss is best known for his orchestral works (among others the wonderful A Colour Symphony, the imaginative ballet Checkmate and a series of concertos for violin, cello and piano respectively), but he composed music in all genres, and on the evidence of Naxos's series his chamber music isn't inferior to his orchestral music. The a minor quartet is a relatively early work, written in 1915 while Bliss was serving on the Western Front, and withdrawn by the composer. It is hardly a masterpiece, but is well worth getting to know. The style is still influenced by Elgar, but the music is well written for the various instruments and incorporates some inventive textures and melodies in what is essentially a hopeful and life-affirming work.

In Conversations, for flute, oboe (alternating alto flute and cor anglais) and string trio, written only a few years later, the style has changed markedly, and now the closest stylistic comparison is the music of Les Six. Again the balance between instruments is superbly handled, and the thematic material is strong, so the whole adds up to a truly inventive and imaginative fifteen minutes work (it also sounds technically demanding, but Cox and Daniel handle the wind parts with the utmost skill and refinement and the string contributions from members of the Maggini are reliable as always).

The B flat major quartet is the most substantial work here, however. It was written when Bliss lived in the United States, just before the start of World War II. It is a very fine work, without being a masterpiece in any way, showcasing the mature composer's mastery of form and sustaining a long argument with ever-inventive material, and again it exploits the medium to the fullest. The performances, both of this one and the early a minor quartet, are as good as we have come to expect from the Magginis, in fact a more convincing performance can hardly be reasonably hoped for. Sound quality is also very good, and the documentation excellent. In short, this is a very rewarding release of some very worthwhile works (if not really mandatory listenings), so if Bliss's music appeals, you should proceed with confidence.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arthur Bliss - an original musical mind, January 15, 2011

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jsa (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chamber Music Vol. 1 - String Quartet No. 1; Conversations for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello (Audio CD)

This is the first of two fine Naxos anthologies of chamber music from Arthur Bliss, the other being Arthur Bliss: Chamber Music, Vol. 2 - Oboe Quintet; Piano Quartet; Viola Sonata. This disc opens with the confusingly named String Quartet No. 1, which was not the first quartet written by Bliss. In fact, the closing work on this disc, the String Quartet in A major, was written in 1915, but was later withdrawn by Bliss. The Quartet No. 1 was composed in 1941, and like many of the works from this composer, is filled with ideas. But unlike other pieces from Bliss that sound a little on the busy side, this quartet is well contained. Thematic ideas are well developed instead of bouncing all over the place. A very appealing piece of music, it's an ideal opener to this excellent program.

Conversations for flute etc, which follows, was written after the First World War, and is influenced by the music from Les Six. Five relatively brief movements lasting just over fifteen minutes, Conversations is so completely captivating that one wishes it were double the length. The interplay between the instruments is skillfully written by Bliss and beautifully played by the Maggini's along with accomplished oboist Nicholas Daniel along with Michael Cox on flute.

The disc closes with the early Quartet in A major, which as previously mentioned, was withdrawn by the composer as was his Piano Quartet in A minor from the same period. That should not discourage prospective listeners, as the Quartet is a worthwhile piece of music. It can't compete with the later Quartet from 1941, but it has a distinctive Engish country flavor to it that makes for very peaceful listening.

Warmly recommended.