Notes and Editorial Reviews
Danish composer Carl Nielsen gave the classical music world a brilliant musical offering during his lengthy musical career that included everything from grand symphonies to solo instrumental works. However, some of his most praised compositions came in the form of chamber music. Though Nielsen wrote five quartets, only four were published, and two of the published works are featured on this artistically superior recording from the Oslo String Quartet.
One of the most endearing aspects of Nielsen's writing is the freedom he gives the musicians in his compositions. The Oslo Quartet takes full advantage of this freedom, sharpening rough edges in certain spots and pruning the soft, pianissimo sections during the calmer sections. On the
Read more
String Quartet in F minor, which was the first Nielsen quartet to be published, the Oslo Quartet demands the listener's attention immediately with a cleverly phrased beginning accented by tension-building sixteenth notes. The quartet relentlessly pushes their artistic liberties to the limit throughout the rest of the F minor Quartet and into the String Quartet in G minor.
The beauty of these two quartets is what has made them so widely loved, and the intensity and fervor that the Oslo Quartet brings to the table makes this particular album a great representation of Nielsen's ingenuity. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Quartet for Strings no 2 in F minor, FS 11/Op. 5 by Carl Nielsen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Oslo String Quartet
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1890; Denmark
2.
Quartet for Strings no 1 in G minor, FS 4/Op. 13 by Carl Nielsen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Oslo String Quartet
Period: 20th Century
Written: Denmark
Notes: Composition written: Denmark (1887 - 1888).
Sound Samples
String Quartet in F minor, Op. 5, FS 11x: I. Allegro non troppo ma energico
String Quartet in F minor, Op. 5, FS 11x: II. Un poco adagio
String Quartet in F minor, Op. 5, FS 11x: III. Allegretto scherzando
String Quartet in F minor, Op. 5, FS 11x: IV. Finale: Allegro appassionato - Allegro molto
String Quartet in G minor, Op. 13, FS 4: I. Allegro energico
String Quartet in G minor, Op. 13, FS 4: II. Andante amoroso
String Quartet in G minor, Op. 13, FS 4: III. Scherzo: Allegro molto
String Quartet in G minor, Op. 13, FS 4: IV. Finale: Allegro (inquieto)
Customer Reviews
Be the first to review this title
Review This Title
