Schubert, Franz: String Quartet In D Min., D. 810; Kernis Aj: Quartet No. 1 / Kernis Project: Schubert (Jasper String Quartet), The

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Add Date: 2012-09-14 Pull Date: 2012-11-16 Charts: Classical/Experimental
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1. Oct 25, 2012: minimum entropy ii
Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: Musica Celestis.” I. Flowing (14:46)
2. Oct 20, 2012: Music Casserole
Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: Iv. Quasi Una Danza (5:40)

Album Review
Larry
Reviewed 2012-09-07
Schubert, Franz: String Quartet in D Min., D. 810; Kernis, AJ: Quartet No. 1
Jasper String Quartet
Label: Sono Luminous (2012)

Schubert (1797-1828) composed this quartet, “Death and the Maiden,” in 1824, after a poem by Claudius Matthias, in which the young maiden exclaims, “I am still young! Go, my dear” and Death replies, “You will sleep softly in my arms.” 1st mvmt - the opening motive ultimately overcomes the pastoral second theme, making clear that Death is inescapable. 2nd mvmt – Death gently coaxes the Maiden. 3rd mvmt – contrasts a driving scherzo with a gentle, Viennese-style trio. 4th mvmt – lyrical dance of death, then fiery finish. Kernis (b. 1960) has won a Pulitzer Prize for his music. He composed his “Musica Celestis” quartet in 1990 using some mild dissonances, pleasing melodies, and traditional four-mvmt form, with 1st mvmt in sonata form (exposition-development and return); its 1st theme rapturous, singing, 2nd theme nervous and agitated, and sections contrasting and linking the two. 2nd mvmt – inspired by Medieval idea of celestial music; variations of a spacious melody and harmony, framed by intro and coda. 3rd mvmt – “bits and scraps of things” plus Trio “based on a nonexistent ländler (folk dance in ¾ time). 4th mvmt – begins haltingly, develops strong dance rhythm, with bits of country music, funk and Beethoven-joke fugue. Both quartets feature monumental opening mvmts, transcendent slow mvmts, short and driving scherzos, and devilish finales.

1. Schubert: String Quartet in D minor, D.810 "Death and the Maiden": I. Allegro (11:29)
2. Schubert: "Death and the Maiden": II. Andante Con Moto (13:24)
3. Schubert: "Death and the Maiden": III. Scherzo - Allegro Molto (3:59)
4. Schubert: "Death and the Maiden": IV. Presto (9:32)
5. Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: Musica Celestis.” I. Flowing (14:46)
6. Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: II. "Musica “Celestis" (11:01)
7. Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: III. Scherzo - Trio Semplice – Scherzo (3:25)
8. Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: IV. Quasi Una Danza (5:40)

Track Listing
1. Schubert: String Quartet In D Minor, D.810 "Death And The Maiden": I. Allegro (1   5. Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: Musica Celestis.? I. Flowing (14:46)
2. Schubert: "Death And The Maiden": Ii. Andante Con Moto (13:24)   6. Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: Ii. "Musica ?Celestis" (11:01)
3. Schubert: "Death And The Maiden": Iii. Scherzo - Allegro Molto (3:59)   7. Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: Iii. Scherzo - Trio Semplice ? Scherzo (3:25)
4. Schubert: "Death And The Maiden": Iv. Presto (9:32)   8. Kernis: String Quartet No. 1: Iv. Quasi Una Danza (5:40)