Debussy - Tailleferre - Ravel

Stenhammar Quartet · Peter Olofsson · Per Öman · Tony Bauer

2019 · ABCD 431

Credits

Performers: Stenhammar QuartetPeter Olofsson — ViolinPer Öman — ViolinTony Bauer — ViolaMats Olofsson — Cello
Composers: Claude DebussyGermaine TailleferreMaurice Ravel

About this release

One of the leading Nordic quartets, the Swedish Stenhammar Quartet, takes on the works of Claude Debussy, Germaine Tailleferre and Maurice Ravel. The quartet's previous recordings have been a success in international journals, and the new album will not be overshadowed by its predecessors. “The Stenhammar Quartet plays with dedication, with clear communicative and interpretive precision across the board” – MusicWeb International.
Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) is known as one of the members of the French composer group Les Six. She composed only one string quartet, between 1917 and 1919, when Les Six composers were gaining fame. Tailleferre's string quartet is a sonatinous three-piece ensemble with a simplistic grit and restrained lust for Ravel's neoclassicism and Les Six composers. The first and second parts proceed as vigilant dreamlike states and finally return to the top peacefully. The last part, on the other hand, tells a rich story with sudden situations, dry humor and ambiguous feelings.
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) and Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) both made one trip in the world of string quartets, resulting in a vastly known pair of pieces in the string quartet literature. As Ravel's quartet (1902) was modeled on the one by Debussy (1893), they mirror what is called impressionist music. Closest to each other the string quartets come in the mischievous pizzicato-scherzo, the groovy punctuality of the earthy tempo underlined. What is also common is the slow recesses of the slow sections and the finals, which, instead of the usual celebratory decision, collectively bring together the thematic harvest of the work and leave a bleak absolute.
The Stenhammar Quartet has been active since 2002. Wilhelm Stenhammar's works are naturally at the heart of the band's work, but its program ranges from Baroque to contemporary music. The quartet regularly orders new works from Nordic composers such as Sven-David Sandström and Bent Sørensen, and has also premiered a number of dedicated works by American and British composers. The Stenhammar Quartet has recorded extensively for the Swedish Broadcasting Company as well as for various record labels, and its recordings have garnered Swedish Grammis nominations. In 2009, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music awarded the Quartet for its work on Swedish music.

Tracks

String Quartet in G minor, L 85, Op. 10
1.I Animé et très décidécomp. Claude Debussy (1862-1918)ISRC FIABA18001786:12
2.II Assez vif et bien rythmécomp. Claude Debussy (1862-1918)ISRC FIABA18001794:01
3.III Andantino, doucement expressifcomp. Claude Debussy (1862-1918)ISRC FIABA18001806:22
4.IV Très modéré - Très mouvementé - Très animécomp. Claude Debussy (1862-1918)ISRC FIABA18001817:20
String Quartet
5.I Modérécomp. Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983)ISRC FIABA18001822:24
6.II Intermèdecomp. Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983)ISRC FIABA18001832:41
7.III Final. Vif.comp. Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983)ISRC FIABA18001844:56
String Quartet in F major, M. 35
8.I Allegro moderato - très douxcomp. Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)ISRC FIABA18001857:55
9.II Assez vif - très rythmécomp. Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)ISRC FIABA18001866:03
10.III Très lentcomp. Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)ISRC FIABA18001876:03
11.IV Vif et agitécomp. Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)ISRC FIABA18001885:07

Reviews

Das Stenhammar Quartet hat sich in Skandinavien eine herausragende Rolle erspielt, die es auch darüber hinaus bekannt gemacht hat.
Pizzicato · Uwe Krusch · June 10, 2019
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I found the Stenhammar Quartet’s performance of these three string quartets thoroughly engaging and satisfying.
MusicWeb International · John France · June 18, 2019
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Record Review
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Debussy: String Quartet in G minor; Tailleferre: String Quartet; Ravel: String Quartet in F major
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BBC Radio 3 · July 10, 2019
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Placing it alongside the Debussy and Ravel Quartets, however, the excellent Stenhammar Quartet have unquestionably done it proud.
Gramophone · Tim Ashley · July 12, 2019
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This is clever programming by the Swedish group, with a sparkling performance reinforcing Tailleferre's rising reputation.
Music for Several Instruments · Dean Frey · July 16, 2019
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Yet by this late date, Tailleferre had generally eschewed impressionism, and as a member of the group Les Six, brought a certain wit and playfulness to her quartet that is notable in the third movement.
AllMusic.com · Blair Sanderson · August 30, 2019
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As a result, these composers’ wonderful harmonic movement is ineffectual, and the music is drained of emotion.
American Record Guide · Gil French · October 24, 2019
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The playing is excellent technically, and the interpretations are fresh and not too sentimental.
Fanfare · James V. Maeillo · January 3, 2020
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One of the leading Nordic quartets, the Swedish Stenhammar Quartet, takes on the works of Claude Debussy, Germaine Tailleferre and Maurice Ravel. The quartet’s previous recordings have been a success in international journals, and the new album will not be overshadowed by its predecessors. “The Stenhammar Quartet plays with dedication, with clear communicative and interpretive precision across the board” – MusicWeb International.
MusicWeb International