Benny Goodman

The Stuyvesant Quartet was founded in 1938 by violinist Sylvan Shulman and cellist Alan Shulman, and made its first recording for Victor that year. In 1939, the Quartet began recording for Columbia Records. This CD includes studio recordings of works by Malipiero (recorded in 1950), and Debussy and Ravel (recorded between 1951-53), released for the first time on compact disc. Also featured on this CD is a live broadcast of the Stuyvesant's performance of Alan Shulman's "Rendezvous" featuring clarinet great, Benny Goodman. In 1946, Benny Goodman asked the Quartet to join him playing a movement of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet on his weekly radio program. Alan Shulman suggested instead that Goodman commission him to write a short original work for clarinet and string quartet. Goodman agreed, and Shulman composed "Rendezvous with Benny", which was premiered over WEAF in August of 1946. The Stuyvesant made their final recordings in 1953 for the group's own label–Philharmonia Records. This CD restores to the catalog key recordings by one of mid-20th-century America's finest chamber ensembles.