Customer Reviews

Martinu: String Quartets, Vol. 1 (Nos. 1 & 2 / Three Horsemen)

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It's sometimes difficult to figure how the major recording labels think. They deluge us with recordings of the complete Bartok Quartets (great music, no doubt, but dour and not easy to grasp), but ignore the approachable quartets of a fascinating composer like Martinu. (There are only couple of complete cycles of his 7 quartets.)

Once again it's up to the smaller labels to fill the breach. This is Vol. 1 of the Martinu quartets and if the rest match the quality of this recording there will be inexpensive way to explore these wonderfully rich pieces.

The first quartet, written in 1918, mixes a number of the styles of music then being composed. It has echoes of Ravel, Debussy, Dvorak, Janacek & Nielsen. Although it lacks the distintive stamp of Martinu's later music, there is a wonderful spacious quality to much of the music in the first two movements. The third movements reminds one of Dvorak. Perhaps the finale is a bit long, but overall the quartet holds the imagination.

The second quartet is much terser (about half as long as the first) and more characteristic. The winding theme which opens the first movement is immediately memorable and the piece is replete with the bouncy rhythms one associates with this composer.

The disc also includes a 12-minute piece written by the composer at age 12, which suggests that we may get all Martinu's music for string quartet.

The playing of the Martinu Quartet is vital and focused, meeting the composer's varied moods. Perhaps they are not the most plush group, but this is a small quibble. They will win many adherents to Martinu's music with this disc. Bravo Naxos!

The Martinu quartet gives us a splendid account of these works. They are idiomatic, vigorous - but by no means strained - and provide brilliantly in-style interpretations. Not that the first two quartets are very much "in style" (though recognizably Martinu). The first quartet is impressionistic carrying strong influences of the Debussy and Ravel quartets, and is a fine if derivative piece. The second quartet is more neo-classical but still surprisingly lyrical. While not masterpieces, these quartets are well worth your acquaintance. The disc is filled out with `Three Riders', a work apparently written when Martinu was 12 - something I, to be honest, is perfectly willing to believe. But if you do not want to hear this more than once, the two quartets can certainly bear repeated listening. Sound quality is excellent. Recommended.