Northern Lights – modern British String Quartets
The three composers featured on this CD are in themselves leading lights of the contemporary music scene in the UK, and their works (of which these are first recordings) very fine examples of the modern string quartet, all extremely accessible.
Track Listing
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John Casken:
- String Quartet no. 2 - I - With piquant verve (5:10)
- String Quartet no. 2 - II - With jazzy obstinacy (3:15)
- String Quartet no. 2 - III - With haunted fascination (7:42)
- String Quartet no. 2 - IV - With playful determination (5:13) Judith Weir:
- String Quartet - I - Serene (5:16)
- String Quartet - II - Con moto (5:11)
- String Quartet - III - Presto (2:45) Robert Saxton:
- Songs, Dances and Ellipses - I - Gently flowing, singing (5:06)
- Songs, Dances and Ellipses - II - Light, dancing (4:58)
- Songs, Dances and Ellipses - III - Still, calm, sustained (9:42)
- Songs, Dances and Ellipses - IV - Subito molto piu mosso, vivo (2:44)
- Songs, Dances and Ellipses - V - dancing, quick (5:38)
Reviews
“The Kreutzer Quartet’s strong performances reveals [the three works’ powerful individuality. Casken’s quartet certainly adds up to an impressive whole, as does, in a very different way, Judith Weir’s. Robert Saxton’s quartet is perhaps a slightly tougher nut… at its heart is a darkly meditative slow movement. It has taken a long time for this release to reach the market, but it was worth the wait.
” —Piers Burton-Page
“Recorded at the turn of the millennium, the Kreutzers respond brilliantly to all their music’s mercurial demands (Four stars awarded)
” —Peter Palmer
“John Casken’s quartet stands out on an excellent disc…touch and timbre beautifully captured by the Kreutzer Quartet.
” —Andy Hamilton
“There are some good helpful notes and the sound quality is first class. Well done to Metier for giving [these recordings] the oxygen of publicity.
” —Jonathan Woolf
“The range of worthwhile issues on the Divine Art label continues to expand with this outstanding release of three relatively recent string quartets by British composers. The performances, in the absence of scores, seem very fine and totally committed, and the recording quality is excellent. Very strongly recommended.
” —Robert Matthew-Walker
