20th century string quartet cycles

[amw]

A cycle being arbitrarily defined as 4 or more quartets here (and, obviously, only works for 2 violins, viola and cello). I think the options should cover most of the well known ones. Choose your top five.

Intentionally excluded - Nielsen, Taneyev, Stenhammar - all belonging more to the 19th century.

[Mirror Image]

I chose Bartok, Martinu, Shostakovich, Schnittke, and Villa-Lobos.

[DavidW]

Bartok, Schoenberg, Shostakovich are the obvious top three... and then I also like Schnittke.

[TheGSMoeller]

Britten, Glass, Nyman, Johnston and Other. The other being Berg, because Lyric Suite is one of the best chamber works of the 20th Century, had to honor it here.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

The other being Berg, because Lyric Suite is one of the best chamber works of the 20th Century, had to honor it here.

Yes, great work. For me the highlight of the piece is the last movement largo desolato. Such a haunting, frozen, directionless portrait of the bleakest landscape there is. But despite this (or because of this!) there isn't a single moment which doesn't make your spine tingle. Mesmerizing. 
   

[Dax]

 Other: van Dieren.

[amw]

I haven't heard any of van Dieren's quartets, though I do have scores for several of them. Are there recordings available?

[Mirror Image]

Yes, great work. For me the highlight of the piece is the last movement largo desolato. Such a haunting, frozen, directionless portrait of the bleakest landscape there is. But despite this (or because of this!) there isn't a single moment which doesn't make your spine tingle. Mesmerizing.

I really need to revisit the Lyric Suite now. You've certainly peaked my interest again, DD.

[springrite]

Bartok, Carter, Myaskovsky, Simpson and:

other: Toch


PS: The above choices partially because I did not see Shostakovich. But hey, he does not need my vote anyway.

[DavidW]

I'm surprised that Schoenberg and Villa-Lobos have as many votes.  One wrote some of the finest string quartets ever written showing a range of styles from late Romantic to atonal, and the other composer wrote decent quartets that are worth a listen now and then.  And yet somehow they are equally popular.

[Todd]

Bartok, DSCH, Martinu, Schulhoff (including his study quartet and the Five Pieces), and probably Villa-Lobos using the four quartet criteria.  Janacek certainly rates among my favorites though he only wrote two.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I really need to revisit the Lyric Suite now. You've certainly peaked my interest again, DD.

Yeah, it's a great work, MI. The Arditti version is the one I prefer:




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[Mirror Image]

Yeah, it's a great work, MI. The Arditti version is the one I prefer:

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Cool, DD. I think I already own quite a few performances of the Lyric Suite, but I'll check that one out. BTW, what do you think of the arrangement Berg made for string orchestra?

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I voted for Bartok, Shostakovich, Schnittke, Rochberg, and Simpson.

No surprise that the first two are running away from the pack.

[Brahmsian]

I voted Bartok, Shostakovich, Miaskovsky and Villa-Lobos.

[7/4]

Terry Riley?

Philip Glass?


It's only a poll.

[Sergeant Rock]

Shostakovich, Schoenberg, Hindemith, Bloch, Zemlinsky


Sarge

[Mirror Image]

I'm not surprised to see any mention of Sculthorpe on this thread. I mean it's not like he's composed 17 of them.

[amw]

I'm surprised that Schoenberg and Villa-Lobos have as many votes.  One wrote some of the finest string quartets ever written showing a range of styles from late Romantic to atonal, and the other composer wrote decent quartets that are worth a listen now and then.  And yet somehow they are equally popular.

I'm surprised that Villa-Lobos has so many more votes than e.g. Tippett or Milhaud. I don't know his quartets well though.

Schoenberg usually falls victim to atonal crap syndrome.

[Mirror Image]

Bartok, Schoenberg, Shostakovich are the obvious top three... and then I also like Schnittke.

Great choices. I think Schnittke's are quite underrated.