String Quartets

Janacek (Artist), Guarneri Quartet (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000HY88
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #303,519 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Janácek's quartets are quite unlike most others written in the 20th century. The utter originality of his mature style (tiny rhythmic and melodic fragments not so much linked as placed side by side) combined with the strange figurations he presents the players make for unique listening. At first the province of Czech quartets, they have gradually become popular everywhere--players seem to enjoy the challenge they present. The Guarneri is the latest world-famous quartet to record them and offers memorable performances. The music is treated as if it were totally mainstream; the fragments are somehow joined into arching, expressive melodic lines, and the odd figurations transformed into reasonable facsimiles of accompaniments. This beauty comes at a price; when was the last time you were offered 41 minutes of music on a premium CD? --Paul Turok

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars listening for years, February 24, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: String Quartets (Audio CD)

These are masterpieces of the literature. Few 20th century
string quartets are full of light. These are. The reviewer below (above) from Australia who mentions "atonal"is as far off the mark as one could get. These are supremely tonal pieces, in fact very conservatively so. In fact,there is not an atonal moment in them, they are more firmly rooted in tonal centers than even Bartok, Hindemith and Ravel quartets of the early part of the century. The comments about small fragments are correct however. These are mosaic structures of great beauty. Other quartets which are crafted similarly are those by Stravinsky. Imagine a more Slavic flavor and you have Janacek.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Different Music, Great Performance., June 27, 2000

By 

"gpercia" (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: String Quartets (Audio CD)

I must confess that I bought this record out of pure curiosity and interest on chamber music. I haven't heard the music beforehand, and was in for quite a surprise, and a good one at that. The Janácek quartets are unlike any others, from any other time. Although they might sound a bit rough at first, repeated hearing will have them grow on you little by little, revealing subtleties previously unthinked of. As for the performance, they are superbly played by the Guarneri Quartet, as usual. This is highly recommended, don't let the duration of only 41 minutes discourage you. This is one where every minute is worth it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Discovery, July 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: String Quartets (Audio CD)

How fortunate I bought this CD! I have discovered Janacek's string quartets, previously unknown to me. They are totally different - Janacek has his own voice, he cannot be compared to any other composer. There is nothing inaccessible here, moments of melody interweave quirky spasms and spiky rhythms. This is interesting music, unlike anything I have heard before. And the Guarneri Quartet is a most persuasive advocate of what for many listeners will be a new sound. Though brief, at 40 minutes, there is ample musical nourishment. I'm so glad I took a chance on an "unknown" quantity. Not for the faint of ear!