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Hill: String Quartets Vol 1 / Dominion Quartet
Naxos

Hill: String Quartets Vol 1 / Dominion Quartet

$19.99 Only 3 left

Details

Composer
HILL, ALFRED
Artist
DOMINION STRING QUARTET
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Jun 26, 2007
Catalog #
8570491
UPC
747313049172

About



HILL String Quartets: Nos. 1–3 • Dominion Str Qrt • NAXOS 8.570491 (65:41)


This is the first volume devoted to Alfred Hill’s 17 string quartets. Hill (1869–1960) was born in Australia, spent his formative years in New Zealand, and studied in Leipzig. He was prolific as a composer and wrote operas, symphonies, concertos, choral works, and much more. (By the way, Hill is usually referred to as having been born on December 16, 1870, but research seems to have proved that his birth was exactly one year earlier.)


His music is likened to that of Dvo?ák and Tchaikovsky. Spot on. It is. And none the worse for that. These three four-movement string quartets, each playing for around 20 minutes, are quite delightful: folksy, tuneful, and elegant, and written with no other aim except to be enjoyed. Hill’s writing is carefully crafted, thoroughly idiomatic, and fluent without being slick; and he seems to have a wealth of melody and suggestion by his side. A European Romantic in essence, but underpinned by “antipodean nationalism [and] Maori themes” (to quote from the booklet note). This latter, while no doubt important to the composer, is absorbed into very traditional-sounding string quartets, really quite Slavic, and here distinguished by some wonderful invention and fine craftsmanship.


The performances by the Dominion Quartet seem excellent and committed, and the close recording is very well judged.


FANFARE: Colin Anderson

Tracklist 12 tracks

  1. 1 I. Moderato - Allegro 06:54
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Moderato - Allegro
    Duration
    06:54
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  2. 2 II. Waiata 03:16
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Waiata
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  3. 3 III. Tangi (Lament) 04:18
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Tangi (Lament)
    Duration
    04:18
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  4. 4 IV. Finale 07:58
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Finale
    Duration
    07:58
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  5. 5 I. The Forest 05:31
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. The Forest
    Duration
    05:31
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  6. 6 II. The Dream 06:53
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. The Dream
    Duration
    06:53
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  7. 7 III. Scherzo 03:39
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Scherzo
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  8. 8 IV. Finale 06:02
    Track
    8
    Title
    IV. Finale
    Duration
    06:02
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  9. 9 I. In the Streets 04:56
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. In the Streets
    Duration
    04:56
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  10. 10 II. Andantino 05:17
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Andantino
    Duration
    05:17
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  11. 11 III. Scherzo 03:02
    Track
    11
    Title
    III. Scherzo
    Duration
    03:02
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet
  12. 12 IV. Finale 07:17
    Track
    12
    Title
    IV. Finale
    Duration
    07:17
    Composer
    Alfred Hill
    Ensemble
    Dominion String Quartet