Classical Music Library Free Download of the Week: Ravel's String Quartet in F

Ravel's sole String Quartet was written in 1902-3 and dedicated to his teacher at the Conservatoire, Faure. Its similarity to Debussy's String Quartet has ensured frequent pairings with that work in recordings, though others have seen the influence of Puccini in the first movement.

Debussy was certainly impressed by the Quartet, remarking:

"In the name of the gods of music, and in mine, do not touch a single note of what you have written"

Like Debussy's example written a decade before, Ravel's String Quartet pushes the boundaries of the genre further than ever before. Using all the expressive powers and sonorities of the String Quartet to their full potential, he creates a taughtly constructed work. The opening theme of the Quartet returns at several points thoughout the work, unifying the four disparate movements into a single conception.

The remarkable pizzicato sonorities of the Assez vif - tres rythme, the lyrical intensity of the opening Allegro moderato, the beautiful Tres Lent, and the vivacity of the concluding Vif et agite combine to create one of the greatest of 20th century quartets

This recording is performed by: Constantin Bogdanas (Violin); Florin Szigeti (Violin); Liviu Stanese (Viola); Dorel Fodoreanu (Cello).

Download this work through January 31st, 2008.

Comments

[http://dhintana.com]

A very good stuff, nice piece of information! I really loved it, I am going to send this to everyody in my firend's list. Thanks for sharing it here...

[Aaron]

Listened to parts of the 'allegro moderato' which takes you on a musical journey,all the contrasting sections make this piece a delight to listen to.
Certain sections were also quite visual,provoking interesting images/situations to roll over in the mind'.

[Glenn]

Thanks for making this available. I've always loved this work -- it's so striking the way Ravel's music is perhaps *of* the Austro-Germanic tradition but so rarely *in* it. Thanks again!

[lusi]

master piece !!