{"product_id":"stenhammar-string-quartets-nos-5-7","title":"Stenhammar: String Quartets Nos. 5 \u0026 6","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"COMPOSER12\"\u003eSTENHAMMAR \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"ARIAL12b\"\u003eString Quartets: No. 5 in C, \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"ARIAL12\"\u003eop. 29, “Serenade;” \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"ARIAL12b\"\u003ein f; No. 6 in d, \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"ARIAL12\"\u003eop.35 \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"BULLET12\"\u003e • \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"ARIAL12\"\u003e Stenhammar Qrt \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"BULLET12\"\u003e • \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"ARIAL12\"\u003e BIS 2009 (SACD: 65:20) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere is the Stenhammar Quartet’s second installment in its survey of works for string quartet by the ensemble’s namesake composer, Wilhelm Stenhammar. It follows quickly on the heels of Volume 1, which was reviewed only in the last issue (37:3). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMuch of what was said about the previous release applies to this one, and so soon after, needn’t be repeated. If you’re familiar with Stenhammar’s late-blooming Romantic idiom in general, and his string quartets in particular, the three works on this disc further reinforce the composer’s consistency in craftsmanship and style. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe three-way comparison I made last time in reviewing Volume 1 of this cycle, which contained the String Quartets Nos. 3 and 4, was between the Stenhammar, Oslo, and Gotland Quartets. Here, with the Nos. 5 and 6, the comparison is again between the Stenhammer and Oslo Quartets, and this time the Fresk Quartet in No. 5 and the Copenhagen Quartet in No. 6—the record label, Caprice, split the quartets up among three ensembles. So here are the results of the present comparison \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQuartet No. 5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnsemble\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e I \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e II \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIII \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIV \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTotal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fresk Quartet \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5:07 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7:30 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1:54 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4:14 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e18:45 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Oslo Quartet \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5:29 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7:30 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2:26 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4:32 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e19:57 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Stenhammar Quartet \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5:13 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7:29 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1:58 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4:15 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e18:55 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQuartet No. 6\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnsemble \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eII \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIII \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIV \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTotal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Copenhagen \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7:48 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2:44 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7:48 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6:02 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e24:22 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Oslo Quartet \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e8:14 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3:08 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7:53 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6:03 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e25:18 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Stenhammar Quartet \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7:12 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2:44 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e8:08 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6:00 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e24:04 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe outcome is pretty much the same as before. The previous comparison found the Stenhammar Quartet taking a middle-of-the-road approach, tempo-wise, between the slightly quicker-paced Gotland Quartet and the generally slower-paced Oslo Quartet. That conclusion is reaffirmed here, even allowing for the two different ensembles, the Fresk and the Copenhagen, taking the place of the Gotland in the Fifth and Sixth Quartets, respectively. With minor exceptions, the Stenhammar’s timings fall in between those of the other ensembles, and end up closer in total to their Swedish (Fresk) and Danish (Copenhagen) counterparts than to their Norwegian (Oslo) colleagues. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s with good reason that Stenhammar’s circa 1910 Fifth Quartet carries the nickname “Serenade,” for it’s an easygoing, genial, breezy, spontaneous-sounding, melodious work that has much in common with Hugo Wolf’s much earlier (1887) \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003eItalian Serenade\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan\u003e and Dag Wirén’s much later (1937) Serenade for Strings. But, personally, I find Stenhammar’s score prettier than the former and better put together than the latter; and it’s performed by the Stenhammar Quartet’s players with much warmth and affection. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy virtue of its minor key, the Sixth Quartet, dated 1916, is necessarily a somewhat less upbeat-sounding piece, but Stenhammar doesn’t seem to have had it in him to compose a dark, tragic-sounding work. The score frequently veers off into sunnier, major-key climes for lovely, song-filled melodies. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe unnumbered String Quartet in F Minor, date 1897, is an equally engaging piece, which, in its melodic contours and rhythmic patterns, more than occasionally calls Dvo?ák to mind. If you’re just beginning to explore Stenhammar’s string quartet output, I’d strongly suggest you start with this disc. The music is as ear-pleasing and emotionally satisfying as anyone could ask for, and the performances by this outstanding Scandinavian ensemble, complemented by BIS’s vibrant SACD recording, make this an unqualified recommendation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003eFANFARE: Jerry Dubins \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BIS","offers":[{"title":"SACD","offer_id":49711255879960,"sku":"7318599920092","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/4346\/3192\/files\/2335444.jpg?v=1788466999","url":"https:\/\/hbdirect.com\/products\/stenhammar-string-quartets-nos-5-7","provider":"HBDirect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}