Fred Sherry String Quartet, Fred Sherry String Sextet - Schoenberg: String Quartet No. 1 & Verklärte Nacht (2013)

Tracklist

01. String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7: Nicht zu rasch -
02. String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7: Kräftig (nicht zu rasch) -
03. String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7: Mässig, langsame Viertel -
04. String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7: Mässig, heiter
05. Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op. 4: Sehr langsam -
06. Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op. 4: Breiter -
07. Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op. 4: Sehr breit und langsam -
08. Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op. 4: Etwas bewegt
09. Thirty Canons: No. 19
10. Thirty Canons: No. 25
11. Thirty Canons: No. 27
12. Thirty Canons: No. 28

There are a number of points of similarity between Schoenberg’s String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7 and Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4, both technical and structural. They were also important works in the composer’s life, Verklärte Nacht being – in his own estimation – the first tone poem ever written for chamber ensemble.

Both works provoked scandals but both also pointed the way decisively toward future development, not least the quartet, which was a pivotal composition in Schoenberg’s career and one that enshrines an intriguing ‘private programme’. Verklärte Nacht when performed by a sextet is usually linked with Schoenberg’s String Trio, a logical enough coupling. But the focus of this disc is on the links between Verklärte Nacht and the String Quartet No. 1. Both are played by the experienced and highly regarded chamber player Fred Sherry and his quartet and sextet.

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