Morton Feldman String Quartet

Take a look here.

http://www.forcedexposure.com/artists/feldman.morton.html

quote:

Originally posted by James Hamilton:
I see Naxos have a re-issue of a version of the Morton Felman String Quartet [listed under new releases -- north american classics] ....

It's by the 'Group for Contempory Music' -- first issued by Koch Classics in 1994.

Two questions ...
a) Is this version any good
b) I thought the string quartet lasted about 6 hours -- is this the same work ..

Thanks

James H.

James,

I think you are right. The string quartet is such a long piece that is very rarely performed as a whole. I do not know the Naxos version. I have to discs by Feldman which I think are exceptional:

*Piano & String Quartet / Koronos Quartet, Aki Takashi, piano /Nonesuch
The length of this piece is (79:33)

*Crippled Symmetry / The California Ear Unit / Bridge
This is a double CD (89:27) of music of flute, percussion and piano

Haim

Thanks Gianluigi,

It looks like it's the second string quartet that's 6 hours long so the Naxos is maybe the first ??

I already have the Kronos 'quartet+piano' which I really like.

James H.

Thanks HR,

Our messages crossed -- I have the Kronos 'quartet + piano'.

James H.

quote:

Originally posted by James Hamilton:
Thanks HR,

Our messages crossed -- I have the Kronos 'quartet + piano'.

James H.

James,

I am listening to it right ,now. Perfect night music for an empty home (my family is away). I heard that Feldman has very interesting music for viola and I am planning to get it. I will let you know how it is.

Regards,

Haim

quote:

It looks like it's the second string quartet that's 6 hours long so the Naxos is maybe the first ??

Hi James!
It looks like.
I've never listened to it so i can't tell directly.
It seems there're a lot of remastered cds and dvd around.

Ciao

Thanks to you both...

It looks like it's an earlier quartet [no 1 ??] rather than an abridged version [of no 2 ??].

When I am in town [i.e. town centre] and I see it in a shop I will buy it.


James H.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by James Hamilton:
Thanks to you both...

James,

If you get a chance, listen to "Crippled Symmetry'. It is hard for me to describe the music, but the combination of the three instruments is facinating.

Haim

James,
the first string quartett is indeed the short one and only a meager 70 minutes. I have the Koch release with the Group for Contemporary Music and it is quite good. I got the feeling that the interpretation tries to be very precise and is sometimes not as relaxed as it could be. But that coud be just a matter of taste.
I very much like the second string quartett by the Ives ensemble (on hat) which is endless and beautiful.
Hope that helps. Enjoy!
Jorg

Many thanks ....

A great forum .... I have discovered that Feldman wrote two quartets [so I will buy the CD since it's his first rather than an abbreviation of his second.] and also that I should look out for 'Crippled Symmetry'.

Thanks again

James