New World Quartets Brodsky Quartet

• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179, "American":
• 1Dvořák: String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179, "American": I. Allegro ma non troppo10:05
• 2Dvořák: String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179, "American": II. Lento08:27
• 3Dvořák: String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179, "American": III. Molto vivace03:45
• 4Dvořák: String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179, "American": IV. Finale. Vivace ma non troppo05:35
• Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990): Two Pieces for String Quartet:
• 5Copland: Two Pieces for String Quartet: I. Lento molto. Tranquillo legato06:05
• 6Copland: Two Pieces for String Quartet: II. Rondino. Allegro moderato04:02
• Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981): String Quartet, Op. 11:
• 7Barber: String Quartet, Op. 11: I. Molto allegro e appassionato (Revised 1938)08:28
• 8Barber: String Quartet, Op. 11: II. Molto adagio (Revised 1938)08:45
• 9Barber: String Quartet, Op. 11: III. Molto allegro (come prima) (Revised 1938)02:35
• George Gershwin (1898 - 1937): Lullaby for String Quartet:
• 10Gershwin: Lullaby for String Quartet09:11
• Aaron Copland: Rodeo:
• 11Copland: Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes. IV. Hoe-Down (Arr. for String Quartet)03:48
• Dave Brubeck (1920 - 2012): Regret (Version for String Quartet):
• 12Brubeck: Regret (Version for String Quartet)06:12
• Total Runtime01:16:58

Info for New World Quartets

The Brodsky Quartet, continuing to pioneer unique repertoire on Chandos Records, presents a programme of works from the ‘New World’ that explores an American sound in the string quartet. The earliest piece on the disc is the American String Quartet, in F major by Antonín Dvořák, the only non-American composer in the release.

His attempt to capture an American sound results in music of notable simplicity, directness, and good humour. In the String Quartet by Samuel Barber we hear an unashamedly romantic composer displaying a more European style. The central Adagio has become enormously popular in an arrangement for string orchestra. Far more distinctively American in idiom is the music of George Gershwin whose Lullaby was his first attempt at classical composition. Copland’s Two Pieces, a work written as a tribute to Gabriel Fauré, is featured along with an original arrangement by members of the Brodsky Quartet of his Hoe –Down. This famous work is enormously evocative of rural America and is heavily indebted to traditional tunes from Celtic settlers. Dave Brubeck is best known as a jazz pianist but he employs his classical training in Regret, which evokes the soundworld and emotional depth of the high baroque style while creating a unique link between the worlds of classical and jazz.

"the most persuasive playing comes in the shorter items. Gershwin's sultry Lullaby is nicely contrasted with the spicy seasoning and rhythmic zest of Copland's Two Pieces and the 'Hoe-Down' from Rodeo" (Gramophone)

Brodsky Quartet

Brodsky Quartet Since its formation in 1972, the Brodsky Quartet has performed over 3000 concerts on the major stages of the world and has released more than 60 recordings. A natural curiosity and an insatiable desire to explore has propelled the group in a number of artistic directions and continues to ensure them not only a prominent presence on the international chamber music scene, but also a rich and varied musical existence. Their energy and craftsmanship has attracted numerous awards and accolades worldwide, while ongoing educational work provides a vehicle for passing on experience and staying in touch with the next generation.

Throughout their 40-year career, the Brodsky Quartet has performed at many of the UK's major festivals and venues, and is regularly recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio. The Quartet also has a busy international performing schedule, and has toured extensively throughout Australasia, North and South America, South Africa, and Europe. Over the years the Brodsky Quartet has, on numerous occasions, performed complete cycles of the quartets of Schubert, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Britten, Schoenberg, Zemlinsky, Webern and Bartok. They are perhaps best known, however, for their performances of the Shostakovich Quartets and therefore chose 2012, the year of their 40th anniversary, to revisit the repertoire and perform the cycle worldwide.

The Brodsky Quartet also has a busy recording career, and last season marked the beginning of a new and exclusive relationship with Chandos Records. The Quartet's first disc for the label, Petits Fours, was released in February 2012 and is a celebratory album of ‘Encore’ pieces, arranged exclusively by the Quartet for their 40th anniversary. In April 2012, Chandos released the Quartet's long-awaited recording of the great Debussy Quartet alongside Deux Danses arranged for harp and string quintet. This new collaboration with Chandos will help add to their already huge and diverse discography. Recent awards for recordings include the Diapason D'Or and the CHOC du Monde de la Musique for their recordings of string quartets by Britten, Beethoven and Janacek, and, for their outstanding contribution to innovation in programming, the Brodsky Quartet has received a Royal Philharmonic Society Award. They have taught at many international chamber music courses and held residencies in several music institutes, including the first such post at the University of Cambridge. They are currently International Fellows of Chamber Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and have been awarded Honorary Doctorates at the University of Kent and University of Teesside.

Booklet for New World Quartets