Peter Maxwell Davies: Naxos Quartets 1 & 2

Maggini Quartet (Artist), Davies (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Davies
• Audio CD (November 16, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0002TB5R6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,637 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

This monumental release marks the beginning of a landmark project for Naxos. These two string quartets are the first to be recorded of ten that Naxos has commissioned from the famous composer Peter Maxwell Davies. This project is a direct reflection of Naxos dedication to new music, and these works by Davies are certainly a gift to the world of music. In accordance with an approach often embraced by Peter Maxwell Davies, the Quartets are composed with the constant awareness that each is a part of a larger picture. Thus, the complete cycle will stand as a monumental work. Peter Maxwell Davies is universally acknowledged as one of the foremost composers of our time, and is currently Master of the Queen’s Music. Plainchant, musical tradition and the haunting landscape of his adopted Orkney Islands all serve as inspiration to Maxwell Davies’ extraordinary and fecund imagination, which is profoundly apparent in these works. The Maggini Quartet is ranked among the top chamber ensembles in the world, and they will record all 10 of the Naxos Quartets. Naxos is proud to offer several award-winning recordings by this prestigious group.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not SO modern, June 5, 2011

By 

Roderick W. Borcherding - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Peter Maxwell Davies: Naxos Quartets 1 & 2 (Audio CD)

Gee, maybe I listen to too much Twentieth Century/Twenty-first Century music because I didn't think these were too difficult as some other reviews have suggested. With this type of music you can't write it off as "just noise" after one hearing because unless you are some sort of aural genius you definitely wont "get it" the first time around. After multiple hearings though, they start to sound a lot more approachable. One can definitely hear themes and melodies and even some tonal harmonies in these works. So as far as difficulty and approachability goes, I would say these quartets are more difficult than Bartok's quartets, but less difficult than Elliot Carter's.

Actually, one of the things I love about music is when I don't get a piece right away. Then for me the fun of listening is trying to "solve the puzzle" of the piece, so to speak. And here we have not 1, 2 or 3 but 10! new string quartets to pull apart, put together and try and decode. That's exactly the thing that gets my blood boiling with excitement the most! Definitely get these quartets.

7 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars à essayer ..., June 27, 2005

By 

Ron Roy (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peter Maxwell Davies: Naxos Quartets 1 & 2 (Audio CD)

Si vous ne connaissez pas Peter M. Davies, ses quatuors
sonnent un peu comme Schnittke ou Berg. L'interprétation
du maggini Quartet est franche,«taillée au couteau»
À essayer si vous aimez le genre... R.R

2 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Try it !, May 30, 2005

By 

dan pazili - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peter Maxwell Davies: Naxos Quartets 1 & 2 (Audio CD)

Try it! this album sound very good. The maggini quartet has
a sound like "a clean cut sound" Peter M. Davies remind me
something between Bartok, Berg, Schnittke or something like that.
A good bargain from Naxos at low price.