American String Quartets

[kea]

Aside from Cage, and Stefan Wolpe (if he counts) I find it hard to think of many works for this medium by Americans that have left a positive impression on me. I used to enjoy the Carter quartets much more than I do now, and it's been a long time since I listened to many others (incl the Rochbergs, Babbitts, Diamonds, Iveses etc).

Some additional names though from a quick scan of my music library—most of which I will admit to not having listened to in some time:

Matthew Barnson - 3 string quartets on Tzadik, struck me as a more coherent/aesthetically meaningful and smoothed out Black Angels
Elliott Sharp - various quartets involving various degrees of improvisation/free jazz stuff
Kristian Ireland - from Stanford, Ferneyhough student; not sure if these are commercially available though
Ben Johnston - west coast microtonal, somewhat folk/minimal inspired but sticking to traditional concepts of form and line; bring your own cannabis
James Tenney - there's an apparently complete recording by the Quatuor Bozzini & in general it's Bozzini-ish sort of stuff
Henry Cowell - a good number of works, not all titled string quartets, scattered among various labels/performers—also very broad variety in style & substance

[Beef Oven!]

An interesting list kea

From your 'additional names' list I have only heard the Ben Johnston. In fact I'm listening to his #10 as I type (into the final movement). I have the complete set on 3 CDs by the Kepler Quartet. I will look out for the music of the others in your list, starting with Cowell.

[verismissimo]

On the Brooklyn Rider CDs I have:

Dominant Curve includes:
Achille's Heel by Colin Jacobsen
In a Landscape by John Cage (arr)

Seven Steps includes:
Together into this Unknowable Land by Christopher Tignor

A Walking Fire includes:
Three Miniatures for String Quartet by Colin Jacobsen

[LeMartinPecheur]

Gloria Coates's quartets?


Strongly recommended to those who love glissandi, but less so to those who don't But worth a listen to find out!

[Bryn]

Gloria Coates's quartets?


Strongly recommended to those who love glissandi, but less so to those who don't But worth a listen to find out!

It's a few years since I listened to them. I must get them down from the self and indulge my ears again.

[verismissimo]

I got out two LPs of American quartets that I've had for some decades:

Ruth Crawford Seeger, SQ
George Perle, SQ5
Milton Babbitt, SQ2
(Composers Quartet, Nonesuch, 1973)

Lukas Foss, SQ1 (American Art Quartet)
William Bergsma, SQ3 (Juilliard Quartet)
(Columbia Collectors Series, nd)

Listening to the Foss now …