About
We're worried by it, stressed out from it, frightened of it - and yet we're fascinated by it. Chaos has always been perceived as a threat, but also as the foundation of life. Various creation stories explain how the world arose out of disorder, out of "mayhem". In like manner, it is anarchic spirits in particular that are credited with the ability to create masterpieces of creative art. This conception was perhaps most neatly expressed by Friedrich Nietzsche: "You must have chaos within you, if you are to give birth to a dancing star." The present album is made up of works which, if you like, harbour the sound of chaos. Originally written for a wide variety of instruments, these pieces are arranged here for string quartet and are connected by improvised interludes - linking passages for which the Hungarian composer Samu Gryllus has provided the basis. The Chaos String Quartet emerged from the iconic violist joke: "Well-established, world-famous string quartet looking for a new first violin, second violin... and cellist." That's exactly how it happened. On Cornwall's rugged coast, during a Prussia Cove masterclass, after an illuminating lesson, a sight-reading session, and a candlelit dinner, Sara invited Susanne to form a quartet. After that first conversation, it took some time to find two other brave musicians, both beyond their mid-twenties, who were willing to embark on the exciting, sometimes complex, and risky adventure that is a string quartet. Fortunately, Eszter and Bas joined soon after, with great enthusiasm. As usual, naming proved a challenge. Some suggested using the first violinist's surname; others, a Greek god. A few warned, "Don't start with A - there are too many." Then came a provocative idea: why not call it Chaos? Furthermore, the quartet enjoys inspiring the next generation, sharing it's experience as Young Artists in Residence at Vienna's University of Music and Performing Arts, cheekily sparking a little chaos among the artists of tomorrow. Their recognition as BBC New Generation Artists (2023-2025) and regular appearances at venues like Wigmore Hall, Musikverein, and Concertgebouw illuminate a journey where unpredictability becomes inspiration-reminding us that from the origins of chaos can emerge music of unique order and profound beauty.
Tracklist 17 tracks
-
1 Die Schöpfung (The Creation), Hob.XXI:2, Part I: Die Vorstellung des Chaos (arr. B. Jongen, E. Kruchió, S. Marzadori and S. Schäffer for string quartet) 05:49
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Die Schöpfung (The Creation), Hob.XXI:2, Part I: Die Vorstellung des Chaos (arr. B. Jongen, E. Kruchió, S. Marzadori and S. Schäffer for string quartet)
- Duration
- 05:49
- Composer
- Franz Joseph Haydn
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
2 Transition A 00:28
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Transition A
- Duration
- 00:28
- Composer
- Samu Gryllus, Susanne Schäffer, Eszter Kruchió, Sara Marzadori, Bas Jongen
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
3 Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of Fugue), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus I (arr. for string quartet) 02:51
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of Fugue), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus I (arr. for string quartet)
- Duration
- 02:51
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
4 Transition B 01:21
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Transition B
- Duration
- 01:21
- Composer
- Samu Gryllus, Susanne Schäffer, Eszter Kruchió, Sara Marzadori, Bas Jongen
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
5 Les elemens, "Simphonie nouvelle": I. Le Cahos (arr. B. Jongen, E. Kruchió, S. Marzadori and S. Schäffer for string quartet) 06:12
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Les elemens, "Simphonie nouvelle": I. Le Cahos (arr. B. Jongen, E. Kruchió, S. Marzadori and S. Schäffer for string quartet)
- Duration
- 06:12
- Composer
- Jean-Féry Rebel
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
6 Transition C 00:46
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Transition C
- Duration
- 00:46
- Composer
- Samu Gryllus, Susanne Schäffer, Eszter Kruchió, Sara Marzadori, Bas Jongen
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
7 I. Allegro nervoso 04:52
- Track
- 7
- Title
- I. Allegro nervoso
- Duration
- 04:52
- Composer
- György Ligeti
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
8 II. Sostenuto, molto calmo 04:56
- Track
- 8
- Title
- II. Sostenuto, molto calmo
- Duration
- 04:56
- Composer
- György Ligeti
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
9 III. Come un meccanismo di precisione 03:17
- Track
- 9
- Title
- III. Come un meccanismo di precisione
- Duration
- 03:17
- Composer
- György Ligeti
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
10 IV. Presto furioso, brutale, tumultuoso 02:14
- Track
- 10
- Title
- IV. Presto furioso, brutale, tumultuoso
- Duration
- 02:14
- Composer
- György Ligeti
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
11 V. Allegro con delicatezza 05:38
- Track
- 11
- Title
- V. Allegro con delicatezza
- Duration
- 05:38
- Composer
- György Ligeti
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
12 Zaïs: Overture (arr. B. Jongen, E. Kruchió, S. Marzadori and S. Schäffer for string quartet) 05:10
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Zaïs: Overture (arr. B. Jongen, E. Kruchió, S. Marzadori and S. Schäffer for string quartet)
- Duration
- 05:10
- Composer
- Jean-Philippe Rameau
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
13 Transition D 00:51
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Transition D
- Duration
- 00:51
- Composer
- Samu Gryllus, Susanne Schäffer, Eszter Kruchió, Sara Marzadori, Bas Jongen
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
14 Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of Fugue), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus II (arr. for string quartet) 02:57
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of Fugue), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus II (arr. for string quartet)
- Duration
- 02:57
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
15 String Quartet No. 3: I. Andante 05:43
- Track
- 15
- Title
- String Quartet No. 3: I. Andante
- Duration
- 05:43
- Composer
- Alfred Schnittke
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
16 Transition E 00:42
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Transition E
- Duration
- 00:42
- Composer
- Samu Gryllus, Susanne Schäffer, Eszter Kruchió, Sara Marzadori, Bas Jongen
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet
-
17 Grosse Fuge in B-Flat Major, Op. 133 14:36
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Grosse Fuge in B-Flat Major, Op. 133
- Duration
- 14:36
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Ensemble
- Chaos String Quartet