Manfred Trojahn music for string quartet on Neos Records 11017.

[Stanfordian]

Here is an alert for lovers of contemporary string quartet music. I have just come across a really outstanding brand new release of world premiere recordings from contemporary German composer Manfred Trojahn. The performers are the Munich based Henschel String Quartet who I believe are one of the world's finest quartets. This disc of music for string quartet includes the: String Quartet No. 3 (1983); Fragments for Antigone (Six pieces for String Quartet) (1988); Song to Insomnia III (Movement No. 6 from Love Letter) (2007) and the String Quartet No. 4 (2009) on Neos Records 11017. I found the music challenging yet highly rewarding. It is probably too early yet to buy the disc for the usual outlets such as: amazon; mdt and HMV. However, the release can be brought direct from the label's site:
neos-music.com

[french frank]

Thanks, SL. I tried for some YouTube vids but they had been removed due to three copyright complaints - all from the BPO

[Roehre]

Here is an alert for lovers of contemporary string quartet music. I have just come across a really outstanding brand new release of world premiere recordings from contemporary German composer Manfred Trojahn. The performers are the Munich based Henschel String Quartet who I believe are one of the world's finest quartets. This disc of music for string quartet includes the: String Quartet No. 3 (1983); Fragments for Antigone (Six pieces for String Quartet) (1988); Song to Insomnia III (Movement No. 6 from Love Letter) (2007) and the String Quartet No. 4 (2009) on Neos Records 11017.

Many thanks SL

[Stanfordian]

I would class Manfred Trojahn's work as not unlike his close German contemporaries of fellow German composers Wolfgang Rihm and Detlev Glanert. As a rough guide it approaches a difficulty scale to that of Webern; Ligeti and also the Second Viennese School.
See musicweb-international for Trojahn review: http://www.musicweb-international.co..._Neos11017.htm

[Sydney Grew]

. . . the . . . Henschel String Quartet who I believe are one of the world's finest quartettes. . . .

May we enquire what it is that leads you to that belief?

[Stanfordian]

My own ears lead me to that own personal 'belief' that they are one of the finest quartets in the world. As an avid chamber music recital attender I have heard them several times and I have been able to compare them to most of those quartets considered the finst such as the Emerson; Škampa; Hagen; Tokyo; Petersen; Maggini; Takács; Talich; Borodin and others. I also highly rate the Artemis Quartet.

Is there a particular reason that makes you question my belief?

[Sydney Grew]

I was wondering about what particular aspect of this quartette's playing it was of which you particularly approved: their powers of expression, their accuracy, the sheer beauty of their sound, their competence in the most difficult and complex works, their understanding of various composers' intentions - that sort of thing.

It is already noteworthy that the Julliard Quartette do not appear in your little list. At one time they had a very good reputation, especially in Mozart Beethoven Bartok and Schönberg. Of course the membership and therefore abilities and interests of these little groups changes over time - they are rather like one's own body which is said completely to renew itself every seven years!

[Stanfordian]

If it wasn’t for their, "powers of expression, their accuracy, the sheer beauty of their sound, their competence in the most difficult and complex works, their understanding of various composers' intentions" I would hate to think what you thought I was judging them on. My ‘little’ list was not a meant to be definitive listing but an example. Yes, the Juilliard Quartet are a fine quartet and I could name several more fine quartets. Anyway the intension of my initial post was merely to alert those interested in contemporary music to the release of world première recordings of string quartet music from Manfred Trojahn.