Julián Carrillo (1875-1965)

[Cato]

My review for The Strad of the Momenta Quartet in Carrillo's quartets nos. 5 and 11.

https://www.thestrad.com/reviews/concert-review-momenta-quartet/15597.article

-Bruce

Excellent!  Many thanks for the review!

By the time of no.11 (1962), Carrillo was in full quarter-tone mode, and its three movements show a refined, compressed energy – at times kept at bay, but at others allowed to explode. The microtones produce even more brilliant colours, with a relentless tangy edge. And it has to be said: though the intonation demands are extraordinary, the foursome kept everything pristinely tuned. Imagine a violent descending scale – all in quartertones – with the musicians creeping down in close chords, and you get a hint of the difficulties.

As a postscript, this past summer, the ensemble – which consists of violinists Emilie-Anne Gendron and Alex Shiozaki, violist Stephanie Griffin and cellist Michael Haas – has recorded Carrillo's quartets nos.5, 6, and 13, as part of a complete survey of all 13 quartets for Naxos.

Really great news!!!

[bhodges]

Thanks so much, Cato — both for reading and for quoting!

-Bruce