Cambini Quartet - Joseph Teixidor - String Quartets (2010)

Few specifics are available regarding Spanish composer Josep Teixidor. Not even the date of his death nor the publication dates for many of his works are known for certain. It is not surprising that his music should be so little known. With so few examples of music from the Classical period outside of Germany and Italy, it is instructive to hear what was going on in nearby countries, and especially to notice just how far the long arms of masters such as Boccherini and Haydn reached. This album features three of his known string quartets, a genre certainly informed by Teixidor's knowledge of Haydn. The quartets are firmly rooted in Classical tradition, with no alarming or startling innovations to be found. Yet these works possess a unique sense of charm, wit, and elegance that is different enough from anything in the standard canon to warrant interest. Performing here is the Cambini Quartet München, whose sound is very thin, bright, and especially treble heavy. There are a fair number of technical issues, most notably with intonation and clear execution of rapid notes in the first violin. Musically, however, the Cambini's capture the graceful charm of Teixidor's quartets. While listeners may be left wanting a more polished performance with superior sound quality, they'll also be left wanting to hear the remainder of the quartets. The English translation of the liner notes is quite awkward and difficult to follow.