Gra?yna Bacewicz (1909-69) constantly sought ways to develop her style, and it is this continuous line of development that is perfectly exemplified in her series of string quartets. String Quartet No. 2 was premièred in 1943 in challenging circumstances but attests to her positive spirit. The prize-winning String Quartet No. 4 is one of her most performed works, perfectly balancing formal complexity, approachable themes and harmonic sophistication. The powerful and intense String Quartet No. 5 is a compositional tour de force. Volume 1 can be heard on Naxos 8.572806.