Pražák Quartet plays Schoenberg!
- Scherzo for String Quartet in F major (1897)
- Presto in C major for string quartet
- Chamber Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 9
with Jaromír Klepac (piano) - String Quartet No. 3, Op. 30
Performed by the Pražák Quartet: Pavel Hula, Vlastimil Holek (violins), Josef Kluson (viola) & Michal Kanka (cello)
I have been studying and listening to the music of Schoenberg these days much more often than ever before. His music, to me, is a fine example of an artistic maturation process. While I study more closely his pioneering 12-tone invention, I also go way back to listen to his early pieces. While I see in the older compositions much less revolutionary ideas, these early works have a level of originality and enjoyment for me, even though they are rarely atonal.
This CD is a fine example of this transition in Arnold Schoenberg’s music: What we get here is writing that, after being based on traditional models (youthful Scherzo and Presto), evolves towards a melodic density and the inventiveness of the Chamber Symphony, Op.9 (1906). And lastly on this recording, we have the Quartet No.3 (1926) which achieves a great balance between rhythm and harmony, as well as melody and counterpoint.
For over 30 years, the Prazak Quartet has been at home on music stages worldwide. They are regular guests in the major European musical capitals, and have been invited to participate at numerous international festivals, where they have collaborated with such artists as Menahem Pressler, Jon Nakamatsu, and others.
Here is Arnold Schoenberg’s – Suite for Piano Op. 25 – Part IV, as performed by the legendary Glenn Gould:
Here is Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony op. 9; performed by Sinfonieorchester des Südwestfunks, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf (recorded 1984)
And here’s a fine performance of the Schonberg String Sextet:
Tags: Arnold Schoenberg, Chamber Symphony, Prazak Quartet