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Cunningham: An Arc of Quartets
Navona

Cunningham: An Arc of Quartets

$21.99

Details

Composer
CUNNINGHAM, MICHAEL G.
Artist
SIRIUS QUARTET MORAVIAN QUARTET PEDROIA QUARTET MILLENNIUM QUARTET NEW ENGLAND STRING QUARTET
Format
CD
Label
Navona
Released
Mar 10, 2017
Catalog #
NV6081
UPC
896931003810

About

As the title of this album suggests, An Arc of Quartets gives listeners unique access to a continuum of composer Michael G. Cunningham's intricate and inviting string music. Five international string ensembles present the album's seven compositions, including Sirius Quartet, the Moravian Quartet, the Millennium Quartet, the Pedroia Quartet and New England String Quartet. These groups' performances of Cunningham's work present the hallmarks of his style of string writing, which is defined by a focus on rhythm, melody, and texture, as well as his gentle yet often dissonant, harmonic language. Although these quartets contain a wide range of sounds and styles, Cunningham maintains a reliable attraction to tense, lyrical melodies, and energetic rhythms. One specific string effect that pervades these works is the glissando, or slide sound, that is produced easily on string instruments. In the middle of String Quartet No. 3, we can hear glissandi spangle an all-pizzicato section, while in the "Zestful" movement of String Quartet No. 5, these sliding gestures are decorated with a trill. This piece's marriage of Cunningham's typical style with uncontrollable, rhythmic energy marks it as one of the more abstract works on the album. Cunningham's quartets utilize special sounds as accents to a core of intriguing textures, evocative melodies, and momentum-building rhythms, all of which remain compelling throughout the album. The composer's impressive skill at creating musical lines is displayed particularly strong in the "Song and Fantasia" movement of his String Quartet No. 1, a piece defined by both soulful lyricism and intense contrapuntal motion.

Tracklist 23 tracks

  1. 1 I. Easter Variations, Op. 10 03:45
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Easter Variations, Op. 10
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Sirius Quartet
  2. 2 II. Song & Fantasia, Op. 14 06:13
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Song & Fantasia, Op. 14
    Duration
    06:13
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Sirius Quartet
  3. 3 I. Brusque 06:58
    Track
    3
    Title
    I. Brusque
    Duration
    06:58
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Sirius Quartet
  4. 4 II. Candidly 03:03
    Track
    4
    Title
    II. Candidly
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Sirius Quartet
  5. 5 III. Crisp & Energetic 05:19
    Track
    5
    Title
    III. Crisp & Energetic
    Duration
    05:19
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Sirius Quartet
  6. 6 I. Quarter Note = Circa 70 03:38
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Quarter Note = Circa 70
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Moravian Quartet
  7. 7 II. — 03:38
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. —
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Moravian Quartet
  8. 8 III. — 03:32
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. —
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Moravian Quartet
  9. 9 IV. — 03:52
    Track
    9
    Title
    IV. —
    Duration
    03:52
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Moravian Quartet
  10. 10 I. Beginning 05:10
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Beginning
    Duration
    05:10
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Pedroia String Quartet
  11. 11 II. Scherzo 02:22
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Scherzo
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Pedroia String Quartet
  12. 12 III. Adagio 03:05
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Adagio
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Pedroia String Quartet
  13. 13 IV. Finale 03:48
    Track
    13
    Title
    IV. Finale
    Duration
    03:48
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Pedroia String Quartet
  14. 14 I. Zestful 04:55
    Track
    14
    Title
    I. Zestful
    Duration
    04:55
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    New England String Quartet
  15. 15 II. Languid 03:45
    Track
    15
    Title
    II. Languid
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    New England String Quartet
  16. 16 III. Spirited 04:46
    Track
    16
    Title
    III. Spirited
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    New England String Quartet
  17. 17 I. Caleando/Slargando 03:44
    Track
    17
    Title
    I. Caleando/Slargando
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    Michael Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Millennium Quartet
  18. 18 II. Canso 03:45
    Track
    18
    Title
    II. Canso
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Michael Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Millennium Quartet
  19. 19 III. Energico 02:52
    Track
    19
    Title
    III. Energico
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Michael Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Millennium Quartet
  20. 20 I. Con carita 04:40
    Track
    20
    Title
    I. Con carita
    Duration
    04:40
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Moravian Quartet
  21. 21 II. Andante 03:29
    Track
    21
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Moravian Quartet
  22. 22 III. Vivace 03:03
    Track
    22
    Title
    III. Vivace
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Moravian Quartet
  23. 23 IV. Con slancio 03:01
    Track
    23
    Title
    IV. Con slancio
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Michael G. Cunningham
    Ensemble
    Moravian Quartet