Cellist David Waterman, writing in the Guardian, about playing in the Endellion String Quartet for twenty-five years:
No, the answer lies simply in the miracle of the vast panorama of great masterpieces that is the quartet repertoire. It is the repository of the most intimate, imaginative, ever-fresh creations of most of the greatest composers of the past 250 years. It is a never-ending challenge and delight to try to deepen our grasp of these fathomless masterpieces; that is what lures all quartets on and keeps us happily, or unhappily, enthralled.
I know people who regard chamber music as too sweet for their taste, fit only for genteel old ladies who lift their little fingers as they sip their late-afternoon tea. But I agree with Waterman: "imaginative," "fathomless masterpieces" are indeed to be found in chamber music. Listen to the Guarneri Quartet go at the Beethoven late string quartets. Perhaps those little old ladies are more adventurous than you think.
(Hat tip to Art and Letters Daily)
Posted by Craig Ceely at January 18, 2004 08:34 AMI like chamber music but am not a huge aficionada. That said, my favorite chamber piece of all time is Tchaikowsky's string sextet "Souvenir de Florence". Tchaikowsky was overrated for his ballets and underrated for his chamber music. The second movement, especially, is heartbreaking.
Mozart and Shostakovich have great small-chamber pieces too. Keep me away from anything baroque, though.
Posted by: Sasha Castel at February 7, 2004 05:52 PMOh, Sasha, please: "anything baroque?" I'm not sure I want to live in a world in which Sasha Castel couldn't enjoy Bach's unaccompanied cello suites. Agree with you about the Mozart, though.
Posted by: Craig at February 23, 2004 08:29 PM