Chamber music from the United Kingdom

[springrite]

Lots of good stuff I could mention, but my current infatuation is with the Simpson "Haydn Variation" Quartet. Great work!

[Lethevich]

That Simpson quartet is the only one of his that I could claim to have a (very) strong preference towards, it's such a towering piece of writing, very dramatic and inventive.

The Hyperion website has clips for anyone interested (it has many short variation movements meaning that you can sample very extensively compared to normal).

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA66127

[Luke]

The 5 Tippett Quartets are obviously the core of his chamber output and span his entire working life, from very early to very late. They are wonderful, craggy, adventurous, free-flying pieces, enormously taxing on the performers - these aren't just 'good English chamber music', they are simply some of the finest and most important quartets of the 20th century.

However, mention has to be made of the same composer's Sonata for Four Horns, which, though 'minor' when put alongside the string quartets is an absolute gem, a perfect little jewel of a piece, one of the best and most attractive introductions to later Tippett. He was a composer who threw caution to the wind, one who took risks and sometimes faltered; but in the Horn sonata every single thing comes off wonderfully.

[Grazioso]

All hail mighty Bax! While he's best known for his orchestral works, he composed a large body of chamber music throughout his career, often for unusual ensembles. So in addition to string quartets and violin sonatas, we get a septet, octet, and nonet; a haunting viola sonata; a goodly number of works for clarinet, oboe, flute, and/or harp; and more. Some excellent recordings of this fine music on Hyperion, Chandos, and above all Naxos, who have covered a large portion of the works.

A couple recommendations:

[madaboutmahler]

I love a lot of British chamber music, but perhaps my favourite British chamber piece is Vaughan Williams' Piano Quintet. I really believe it to be one of his most excellent pieces besides the symphonies! Really wonderful!
Does anyone here know this work?

[asin]B0015D20H2[/asin]

Daniel

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

The string quartets of Daniel Jones sound interesting, too:


http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%209535

[cilgwyn]

I second that!
Hey,Daniel Jones is now on THREE separate threads!!!
Thanks Johan.

[Brahmsian]

The string quartets of Daniel Jones sound interesting, too:


http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%209535

Yes, I agree!  I think they are pretty good!  I could not believe my library had a copy of these.

[cilgwyn]

Must be a good library? The last time I went in mine it was mostly Classic FM stuff. And they used to be so good. Incidentally,it's deleted now,so make the most of it!

[DavidRoss]

The string quartets of Daniel Jones sound interesting, too:

Do they include helicopters?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Do they include helicopters?

His name isn't Joneshausen.

[cilgwyn]

I could put them on when the Police helicopter's overhead!

[Brahmsian]

Must be a good library? The last time I went in mine it was mostly Classic FM stuff. And they used to be so good. Incidentally,it's deleted now,so make the most of it!

Our downtown library in particular has a very extensive classical music CD and DVD library.  Good way for me to explore some of the music without burning my pocket book!   

[Lethevich]

I love a lot of British chamber music, but perhaps my favourite British chamber piece is Vaughan Williams' Piano Quintet. I really believe it to be one of his most excellent pieces besides the symphonies! Really wonderful!
Does anyone here know this work?

Love it. Is it just me, or does it feel like it's in two parts to anybody else - the introduction melting by into the second, then the slow movement into the finale?

The string quartets of Daniel Jones sound interesting, too:

http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%209535

THIS PRODUCT IS CURRENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE AS AN MP3

wat

[snyprrr]

V-W's SQ No.2 has a modal character I might almost call the Crusades,... a stern nobility, not quite as generous as Hindemith?

Bridge PT No.2, natch.

[The new erato]

I could put them on when the Police helicopter's overhead!

Did The Police really use helicopters on some of their discs?

[Luke]

Did The Police really use helicopters on some of their discs?

Remember, every step you take, they are watching you. And that's how.

[I'm refraining from any puns about Sting operations..]

[cilgwyn]

That line sounds very topical these days.