Novelettes Op 15

1. Novelettes (5) for string quartet, Op. 15
Composed by Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov
with Nick Barr , Patricia Calnan , David Daniels , Harriet Davies

2. String Quartet No. 5 in D minor, Op. 70
Composed by Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov
with Nick Barr , Patricia Calnan , David Daniels , Harriet Davies

Tracks:

Str Qt No.1 in D, Op.11: I. Moderato E Semplice
Str Qt No.1 in D, Op.11: II. Andante Cantabile
Str Qt No.1 in D, Op.11: III. Scherzo (Allegro Non Tanto E Con Fuoco)
Str Qt No.1 in D, Op.11: IV. Finale (Allegro Giusto)
Str Qt No.2 in D: I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt No.2 in D: II. Scherzo (Allegro)
Str Qt No.2 in D: III. Notturno (Andante)
Str Qt No.2 in D: IV. Finale (Andante-Vivace)
Five Novelettes, Op.15: I. Alla Spagnola (Allegretto)
Five Novelettes, Op.15: II. Orientale (Allegro Con Brio)
Five Novelettes, Op.15: III. Interludium In Modo Antico (Andante)
Five Novelettes, Op.15: IV. Valse (Allegretto)
Five Novelettes, Op.15: V. All'ungherese (Allegretto-Andantino Sostenuto-Allegretto)

Amazon.com

All of these Russian pieces for string quartet can use the kind of propulsive kicking-along that was the Hollywood String Quartet's specialty. Not even this level of playing can save the Glazunov, a sorry mishmash of various national styles in utterly unconvincing style pastiches. But the lovely Tchaikovsky and Borodin works, in such utterly unsentimental performances, really bloom. Ignore the minor deficiencies of the restored mono sound for music-making of this quality--and be thankful for the CD's capacity to program out Glazunov. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Hollywood String Quartet at their best!.......2000-01-18

This CD contains probably the best recordings Hollywood String Quartet ever made. I also think their recordings of these works are the best ever recorded. They perform with gloriously rich, expressive sound and impeccable ensemble. It is refreshing to hear these very Romantic compositions with appropriate sentiment, BUT NOT WITH EXCESS SENTIMENTALITY. The Glazunov especially benefits from this approach (it could easily sound like a parlor music were it played with gushing sentimentality). Tchaikovsky and Borodin are also incomparable. An absolute must for people who like these music. The recording is mono, but it is very high quality. And it really should not matter if the performances are at such exquisite level.

The Hungarian String Quartet and Zoltan Szekely

Average customer rating:

A Long-kept Secret

The Hungarian String Quartet and Zoltan Szekely

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007MSV52
Release Date: 2006-01-01

Tracks:

I. Adagio
II. Andante Cantabile
III. Menuetto-Allegretto
IV. Allegro Molto
I. Allegro
II. Andante Con Moto
III. Scherzo. Allegro Molto
IV. Presto/Prestissimo
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Andantino Grazioso
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
IV. Finale. Presto

Tracks:

I. Allegro Molto Moderato
II. Andante Un Poco Moto.
III. Scherzo. Allegro Vivace/Trio. Allegretto
IV. Allegro Assai
I. Allegro
II. Andante Con Moto
III. Scherzo. Allegro Molto
IV. Presto/Prestissimo

Tracks:

I. Introduzione: Andante Con Moto - allegro Vivace
II. Andante Con Moto Quasi Allegretto
III. Menuetto: Grazioso
IV. Allegro Molto
I. Adagio, Ma Non Troppo E Molto Espressivo
II. Allegro Molto Vivace
III. Allegro Moderato
IV. Andante, Ma Non Toppo E Molt Ocantabile/Piu Mosso/Andante Moderato E Lusinghiero/Adagio/Allegretto/Adagio, Ma non Troppo E Semplice/Allegretto
V. Presto
VI. Adagio, Quasi Un Poco Andante
VII. Allegro
I. Allegro
II. Andante. Quasi Recit./Andante Con Moto/Allegretto/Andante Con Moto/Pi'u Mosso/Allegro Giocoso

Tracks:

I. Allegro. Allegro Molto/Piu Vivo
II. Adagio Molto. Un Poco Piu Andante/Piu Lento/Largo/Piu Andante
III. Scherzo. Alla bulgarese (Vivace)/Vivacissimo/(Scherzo Da Capo)/Agitato
IV. Andante/Piu Andante/Piu Lento/Piu Mosso, Agitato/Tranquillo/Piu Andante/Piu Lento
Finale. Allegro Vivace/Presto/Piu Presto, Scorrevole/Prestissimo/Allegretto Capriccioso, Etc.
I. Mesto/Piu Mosso, Pesante/Vivace Un Poco Meno Vivo/Vivacissimo, Agitato/Ancora Piu Vivo/Pesante, Etc.
II. Mesto. Marcia/Ancora Meno Mosso/Animato, Molto Agitato/Risoluto/Meno Mosso
III. Mesto/Burletta. Moderato/Andantino/Piu Lento, Espressivo/Andantino
IV. Mesto/Piu Andante/Molto Tranquillo/Piu Andante
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Adagio Cantabile
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
Finale. Vivace

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Allegretto Vivace E Empre Scherzando
III. Adagio Molto E Mesto
IV. Theme Russe. Allegro
I. Prima Parte. MOderato
II. Seconda Parte: Allegro
III. Ricapitulazione Della Prima Parte. Moderato
IV. Coda. Allegro Molto
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Adagio Cantabile
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
IV. Finale. Vivace
Koromzay & Kuttner On Early Repertoire Of Quartet And On Characteristics Of A Quartet That Pioneers New Music (From An Interview At Colby College, Maine, Aug. 1971)

Tracks:

I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Andante Moderato
III. Quasi Minuetto Moderato/Alegretto Vivace
Finale. Allegro Non Assai/Poco Tranquillo/Piu Vivace
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
IV. Allegretto Ma Non Troppo
I. Grave. Sostenuto
II. Fuga
III. Aria Cantabile
V. Allegro
Koromzay On Early Repertoire Of The Quartet (From An Interview At Colby College, Maine, Aug. 1971)

Tracks:

I. Moderato E Simplice/Allegro Giusto
II. Andante Cantabile
III. Scherzo. Allegro Non Tanto/Trio
IV. Finale. Allegro Giusto/Andante/Allegro Vivace
I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II. Lento
III. Molto Vivace
IV. Finale. Vivace Ma Non Troppo
I. Moderato
II. Andante
III. Allegro
Guitarre
Koromzay, Szekely & Kuttner On How The Quartet First Learned The Beethoven Cycle In Holland During WWII/Intimate Connection With Holland (From An Interview At Colby College, Main, Aug. 1971)

Tracks:

I. Alla Spagnuola. Allegretto
II. Orientale. Allegro Con Brio
III. Interludium In Modo Antico. Andante
IV. Valse. Allegretto
V. All' Ungherese. Allegretto
I. Introduzione. Andante Espresivo/Allegro
II. Scherzo. Presto. Intermezzo
III. Adagio
IV. Presto
I. Anime Et Tres Decide
II. Assez Vif Et Bien Rytme
III. Andantino, Doucement Expressif
IV. Tres Modere
Szekely On Discovering The Kodaly Second Quartet (From An Interview At Colby College, Maine, Aug. 1971)

Customer Reviews:

A Long-kept Secret.......2005-05-22

One always wondered if the Hungarian Quartet's studio work actually represented their true artistry. Now with this unexpected set from Music & Arts, one hears a different group, expanding any previous boundaries. Their unity and freedom, lack of inhibition paired with a structural wisdom make for wonders. I find their depth and immediacy surpassing the Budapest, Busch, Vegh, and many others. The sound is so excellent on these concert performances. A real treasure for the music and performance. May one hope for more?

Pro Arte Quartet: Works by Bartok, Ravel, Bloch and others

Average customer rating:

Pro Arte Quartet: Works by Bartok, Ravel, Bloch and others
Pro Arte Quartet , Beethoven , Borodin , and Mozart
Manufacturer: Andante
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000649OJ
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

String Quartet No.8 In E Minor, Op.59 No.2: I. Allegro
String Quartet No.8 In E Minor, Op.59 No.2: II. Molto Adagio
String Quartet No.8 In E Minor, Op.59 No.2: III. Allegretto
String Quartet No.8 In E Minor, Op.59 No.2: IV. Finale: Presto
String Quartet No.1, Op.7 Sz40: I. Lento
String Quartet No.1, Op.7 Sz40: II. Allegro
String Quartet No.1, Op.7 Sz40: III. Introduction
String Quartet No.1, Op.7 Sz40: Allegro Vivace
String Quartet No.2 In D Major: I. Allegro Moderato
String Quartet No.2 In D Major: II. Scherzo: Allegro-Vivace
String Quartet No.2 In D Major: III. Notturno: Andante
String Quartet No.2 In D Major: IV. Finale: Andante-Vivace
5 Novelettes, Op.15: Orientale
Piano Quintet No.1: I. Agitato
Piano Quintet No.1: II. Andante Mistico
Piano Quintet No.1: III. Allegro Energico
String Quintet No.3 In C Major, K 515: I. Allegro
String Quintet No.3 In C Major, K 515: II. Menuetto (Allegretto) & Trio
String Quintet No.3 In C Major, K 515: III. Andante
String Quintet No.3 In C Major, K 515: IV Rondo: Allegro
Piano Quintet In E-Flat Major, Op.44: I. Allegro Brillante
Piano Quintet In E-Flat Major, Op.44: II. In Modo D'una Marica: Un Poco Largamente-Agitato
Piano Quintet In E-Flat Major, Op.44: III. Scherzo: Molto Vivace
Piano Quintet In E-Flat Major, Op.44: IV. Finale: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
String Quartet No.10 In E-Flat Major, Op.Posth.125 No.1, D87: Finale: Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, M9: I. Poco Lento-Allegro
String Quartet In D Major, M9: II. Scherzo: Vivace
String Quartet In D Major, M9: III. Larghetto
String Quartet In D Major, M9: IV. Finale: Allegro Molto-Larghetto-Allegro Molto
String Quartet In F Major: I. Allegro Moderato
String Quartet In F Major: II. Assez Vif-Tres Rythme
String Quartet In F Major: III. Tres Lent
String Quartet In F Major: IV. Vif Et Agite

Album Description

Founded in the early 20th century, the Pro Arte Quartet became champions of the new music of their time, working with contemporaries such as Bartók, Ravel and Bloch. This collection from andante aptly reveals their contribution to the art of the string quartet.

Average customer rating:

A truly superb collection!
Exceptional beautiful music!
Excellent beyond words!

Garden Song

Manufacturer: Sugo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Noel Noel

ASIN: B000000603
Release Date: 1996-10-01

Tracks:

Minuetto from Str Qnt in E, Op.13, No.5, G.275
Minuetto from Str Qt in B-Flat, K.458
Andante cantabile (Serenade) from Str Qt in F, Op.3, No.5
Allegro from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K.525
Notturno from Str Qt No.2 in D
Allegro moderato from Str Qt in D, Op.64, No.5 'Lark'
Andante from Str Qt in D, K.575
Finale, Allegro con brio from Str Qt in g, Op.74, No.3 'Rider'
Andante cantabile from Str Qt No.1 in D, Op.11
Canzonetta from Str Qt in E-Flat, Op.12, No.1
Valse from 5 Novelettes, Op.15

Customer Reviews:

A truly superb collection!.......2001-09-09

The Camilli String Quartet shows that they are indeed the upper crust of string playing...this album is evidence to that! The playing on this delightful CD is crisp, fresh, and absolutely charming. There are 11 famous classical pieces on here by Haydn, Mozart Mendelssohn, Tchaiscovsky, Boccherini, Barodin, and Glasunov. Each piece makes you want to listen to it again, and dance with it. This would be perfect at any garden party or social, for indeed the listeners will most assuredly make a comment about it's utter beauty. The sound quality, precision, and quality of playing is quite perfect. I highly reccomend Garden Song, for it will indeed transform the garden of your soul.

Exceptional beautiful music!.......2000-12-14

I just love this music. I wish they would make more than just 2. That's all I see at amazon.com, anyway. I have been making christmas candy to this for the past 2 weeks and it is so relaxing! I am going to get their christmas one, also! You won't regret this one, for sure!

Excellent beyond words!.......1999-12-30

When I first listened to this CD, I immediately fell in love with string quartet music. Camilli String Quartet has a way of making all problems vanish. Music lovers would definitely love this CD.

Average customer rating:

Definitive recording of an unfortunately neglected composer

The Legacy of Pantcho Vladigerov

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000A33A
Release Date: 1998-08-25

Customer Reviews:

Definitive recording of an unfortunately neglected composer.......2006-06-04

The music of Bulgarian composer Pantcho Vladigerov (1899-1978) is a veritable treasure trove of all that is great in Eastern European music. Its influences, like that of Bulgaria's musical heritage in general, range from the exoticism of Greek modes and exuberant irregular meters of Eastern European folk dances to the austerity of Byzantine and Orthodox chant. Vladigerov's urbane eclectic musical pallete also included influences as far-flung as East Asian and Middle Eastern music. His music is composed with a technical command and coloristic inventiveness surpassing that of many composers who are more blessed with attention on recital programs and recordings. And not the least of considerations, he was a master pianist, the teacher of Alexis Weissenberg, and added to the piano repertoire a great catalogue of music that flatters the instrument's possibilities in ways that (hopefully) should in the long run secure for this music a place among that of the greatest of piano composers: Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff. Make no mistake, the fact that this music is virtually unknown has nothing to do with the music's quality, but is rather due to the fact that his scores are now next-to-impossible to obtain. The Vladigerov family, whichs holds the copyright to this music, refuses to let it be printed in the West. Their sensibilities have been so provincialized by the communist regime that they fear exploitation by Western publishers, who have in the past decades repeatedly and fruitlessly begged them for the opportunity.

The stellar poetic and virtuosic performances on this CD, by Bulgarian pianist Krassimira Jordan, are informed by a personal knowledge of the composer and can be considered definitive. Her artistry seamlessly takes into account all of the music's beautiful and exotic colors, as well as the volcanic passion that this music inspires and requires. The selections on this CD mostly emphasize the lyrical and exotic side of the composer, but certain tracks, such as the Prelude in f-minor and the "Vardar" Rhapsody, offer up highly charged performances of the highest virtuosity without ever losing a sense of the music's noble and poetic qualities.

As a side note, many fans of Marc-Andre Hamelin will be interested to know that he has recently taken a passionate interest in Vladigerov's music, which he considers essential. He has been programming this music on many of his recent programmes, and intends to record a disc in the near future. Hopefully this attention will renew worldwide interest in this unfortunately neglected composer.

Average customer rating:

This cd is great! I recomend this Cd to people with talent!

Slavic Masterpieces for Piano

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000049PX
Release Date: 1996-08-01

Customer Reviews:

This cd is great! I recomend this Cd to people with talent!.......1999-03-05

I recomend this cd to people with interest in music! That's what I mean about talent!

Average customer rating:

Very idiomatic performances by the St. Petersburg Quartet.

Glazunov: 5 Novelettes, Quartet No. 5
St. Petersberg String Quartet
Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005J9LQ
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Tracks:

I. Alla Spagnuola
II. Orientale
III. Interludium In Modo Antico
IV. Valse
V. All' Ungherese
I. Andante; Allegro
II. Scherzo: Allegretto
III. Adagio (Con Licenza)
IV. Finale: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Very idiomatic performances by the St. Petersburg Quartet........2001-05-28

For those of us who wish that Borodin and Tchaikovsky had written more chamber music than they did (both had written no more than a handful), Alexander Glazunov and even Sergei Taneyev compensated us enormously (and still do). Glazunov in particular kept the genre alive well into 1930 (the date of his last Quartet, the Seventh) and indeed, the Quartets in particular support the notion of Glazunov as the link between the generations of Borodin and Russian/Soviet composers of the 20th Century.

There's another linkage worth noting. Like the symphonic works (especially the symphonies), piano music, ballets, and vocal scores, Glazunov's chamber music serve as a link between the two schools (the Tchaikovsky/Tanayev led Moscow Conservatory and the St. Petersburg Conservatory under Rimsky-Korsakov). Therefore, Glazunov's music is admirably blended and diverse. The Five Novelettes (1886) in particular absorb much of the orientalism of the Russian Five, especially the Orientale and the Interludiumin modo antico movements (effectively anticipating Rimsky-Korsakov's "Sadko" written nine years later). But, there's something Tchaikovskian in the lyrical warmth and lucidity in the Alla Spagnuola and the Valse, while All'Ungherese shows Glazunov's admiration towards Hungarian music: its use in Raymonda (esp. in Act III) is startling.

There's much of Tchaikovsky's lyrical warmth and sentimentality in Glazunov's Fifth Quartet, arguably his finest. But, there's some dramatic impulses in the first movement that Tchaikovsky would have love to claim as his own. The Scherzo movement and the Finale are very well-written & admirable and the Adagio has real emotional depth in it (the mid section reminds me of the soaring string beginning of the Finale in Tchaikovsky's Pathetique).

At first hearing, I felt that the playing of the St. Petersburg Quartet was at times awkward and not as straightforward as the Lyric and the Shostakovich Quartets (in Meridian & Olympia/Melodiya CDs respectively). The phrasings at places are elongated (in the final bar of the Fifth Quartet's First movement for instance) while there are noticeable changes in tempi (like in the mid section of Orientale). But at second hearing, I felt a huge sense of spontaneity behind the music making (an approach more popular in performing a Glazunov work these days) and his music is so much alive and vivid as a result. However, I will not take anything away from the Lyric Quartet under Meridian. The ensemble bring out the coloristic qualities of the Five Novelettes effectively (and the Interludium in modo antico under their hands is spectacular) while their performance of the Fifth is likewise well done and in their own way measures up to the St. Petersburg Quartet.

A very tough choice then. For one thing, avoid the Olympia CD reissue of the Five Novelettes performed by the Shostakovich Quartet (the final movement is omitted). However, another Olympia CD has the Fifth with the popular Third "Slavonic" Quartet and Books I & II admirably & exuberently performed by the same team and is a huge library acquisition. Between the St. Petersburg and the Lyric Quartets though, the former add more liveliness to the music while the latter is sonorous yet in the Interludium particularly, highly concentrated. Also, the Meridian recording sound is richer and more blended than Delos, while the sleeve notes for both CDs are good, though not spectacular (inside the CD case for Delos, there's a photograph of a bronze bust of Glazunov done by the German sculptor Karl Altenbernd curiously not mentioned anywhere in this entire CD album).

If anything, I would recommend both the Meridian and the Delos recordings of the works for different yet compelling reasons while I would hunt for the Olympia CD (OCD 525) having the Fifth Quartet accompanied by the Third "Slavonic" and Books I & II for Quartet.

I for one yearn for new recordings of Glazunov's (and Taneyev's) chamber music (since most of the re-issues have been deleted). Maybe, the Lyric and/or the St. Petersburg Quartets would do us wonders in that regard (which would add to the treasures in our discovery of the romantics and beyond).

Glazunov: 5 Novelettes, Op. 15/Quartet, No. 5, Op. 70
Average customer rating:

A very first-rate performance. A full recording.

Glazunov: 5 Novelettes, Op. 15/Quartet, No. 5, Op. 70

Manufacturer: Meridian
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003XCW
Release Date: 1995-11-01

Tracks:

5 Novelettes: Alla Spagnuola
5 Novelettes: Orientale
5 Novelettes: Interludium In Modo Antico
5 Novelettes: Valse
5 Novelettes: All' Ungherese
Quartet No.5: Andante-Allegro
Quartet No.5: Scherzo
Quartet No.5: Adagio (Con Licenza)
Quartet No.5: Finale-Allegro

Customer Reviews:

A very first-rate performance. A full recording........1999-03-25

So far, Glazunov's Five Novelettes is available in a complete version under the Meridian label, even though the Shostakovich Quartet also performed it complete (Olympia CD however omitted the last novelette for spacing purposes). Five Novelettes,of 1886, is a set of highly interesting pieces, especially the Orientale mov't. Full of youth & colour compels one to envision various landscapes (in Russia, Spain, Hungary, Austria).

The Fifth Quartet, of 1898, is more classical, conservative, & mature than its 1886 counterpart, although no less & no more attractive. Although Glazunov on occassion can be long winded (his finale is his weakest movement), these two pieces are attractively coherent & flowing, with memorable melodies.