Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.)
The American critic Robert Reilly described the music on Volume One of this cycle of the complete string quartets of David Matthews (b. 1943) as ‘some of the most concentrated, penetrating writing for this medium in the past 30 years or more.
It is musical thinking of the highest order and quartet writing in the great tradition of Beethoven, Bartok, Britten, and Tippett’.
This second CD in the series presents the Fifth Quartet (1984) and the most recent, Quartet No. 12 (2009–10).
David Matthews: String Quartet No. 5, Op. 36
I. Lento, cantando
II. Vivace, energico
III. Largo sostenuto
David Matthews: String Quartet No. 12, Op. 114
I. Prelude and Fugue
II. Tango
Cadenza I
III. Menuetto scherzando
Cadenza II
IV. Serenade
Cadenza III
V. Canto mesto
VI. Menuetto grazioso
VII. Finale
October 2012
*****
“It reinforces the view that, Robert Simpson apart, he is probably the most important British quartet composer of recent decades...The Kreutzer Quartet (each of whom gets a solo spot in the work's linking cadenzas) are at the very top of their game in expounding this important and masterly score. I have no hesitation in recommending this disc.”
23rd June 2012
***
“Although backward-looking, they are both so well argued that all you notice is Matthews’ civilised pedigree and bright, sinewy language...The Twelfth is full of jolly Haydn-esque touches. The Kreutzers do Matthews proud.”
21st July 2012
***
“I'm not sure it all hangs together, but the Kreutzer's performance suggests that they certainly find it convincing.”
I. Lento, cantando
