Alwyn: String Quartets 1 & 2 | Classical Music CD | Perfect for Home Listening & Gift Giving

The pinnacle of William Alwyn's compositional output is constituted by his symphonies, but he did indeed compose masterpieces in other genres as well - the string quartets are clear examples. The first quartet is formally concentrated, and really a striking masterpiece. The first movement is based on a few thematic fragments that are subjected to a variety of ingenious developments. It is gripping from start to finish, and is followed by a grotesquely capricious scherzo. The slow movement is richly beautiful and poetic - avoiding any traditional climax, but immensely stirring in its yearning, opulent lyricism. The finale provides a compelling conclusion by utilizing fragments of ideas from the previous movements, transmuted into a superbly imaginative structural whole.On the whole I view the first quartet as perhaps slightly superior to the second, but the second quartet (from 20 years later) is still a superb work. It is even more concentrated than the first quartet, and almost every element Alwyn is going to use is presented as seeds in the first few bars of the first movement. It is a more troubled work than its predecessor as well, filled with unease and even rage. In the first movement the anger and power gradually turns to bleakness, though its themes reappear, fragmented and permuted, in the scherzo. The finale is a lament with intermittent outbursts of fury that gradually combats its way to a noble conclusion.Both works are played with immaculate technical skills by the Quartet of London, who also imbues the music with plenty of vigor, urgency, and emotional power - as well as almost breathtaking beauty, for instance in the slow movement of the first quartet. In short these are magnificent performances (at least as far as I can tell - I am not familiar with the competition), and Chandos has given them excellent sound. The main drawback is the stingy playing time - at 44 minutes there would have been plenty of opportunity to include more of the composer's chamber music. Yet with performances like this, and music of such high quality, I cannot really get myself to withdraw any stars.