Ragazze Quartet - But Not My Soul: Price, Dvořák & Giddens (2024) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor: I. Moderato
02. String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor: II. Andante cantabile
03. String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor: III. Juba - Allegro
04. String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor: IV. Finale - Allegro
05. String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96 "American": I. Allegro ma non troppo
06. String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96 "American": II. Lento
07. String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96 "American": III. Molto vivace
08. String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96 "American": IV. Finale. Vivace ma non troppo
09. At the Purchaser’s Option (Arr. for String Quartet by Jacob Garchik)



Ragazze Quartet perform works by two female composers Rhiannon Giddens (*1977) and Florence Price (1887-1953), combined with the ‘American’ String Quartet No.12 by Antonín Dvořák (1841 -1904). Florence Price was the first African-American woman to be recognized for her symphonies, yet her music was forgotten for many years. Her String Quartet No.2 is a mix of European romanticism, her ‘Southern’ roots, the emerging blues and African-American spirituals. The title of the album derives from a song Rhiannon Giddens wrote after seeing a 19th-century advertisement for a 22-year-old female slave whose 9-month-old baby was also for sale, but 'at the purchaser’s option'. One of the lines of the song is: "You can take my blood. But not my soul." The string quartet arrangement was made by Jacob Garchik in 2016, commissioned by the Kronos Quartet’s ‘ 50 For The Future ’ project. “This album is a tribute to composers who, despite opposition, have always remained true to their soul. Our own souls are not directly related to the work songs of African slaves, Czech folk music, or African-American spirituals. But we want to contribute to making the voices, souls and music heard.” - Ragazze Quartet

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