The String Quartet Game (Final Round)

[Sammy]

I'm disappointed a bit by the lack of Mozart in the top 10, but most seemed rather uninterested in helping him in the final round.

I much prefer Haydn's string quartets to Mozart's.  However, when it became clear to me that my favorite Haydn quartet (op. 20/2) was going nowhere, I abandoned Haydn also.

My sole regret about the conclusion was that Zemlinsky's string quartet no. 2 didn't make the top ten.  It's my favorite string quartet of all, and I just can't figure out why everyone else doesn't share my opinion. 

[Gurn Blanston]

I'm disappointed a bit by the lack of Mozart in the top 10, but most seemed rather uninterested in helping him in the final round.

The C major (K 465) is in my Top 5 faves, but early on no one else voted for it, and by the time Scarpia started to, I had switched over to a much more possible winner which is also one of my Top 5, as first 2 place winners were. 4, 5, 6, 8 & 10 are also high ranking with me, but they can't all finish on top! 

[Baron Scarpia]

My sole regret about the conclusion was that Zemlinsky's string quartet no. 2 didn't make the top ten.  It's my favorite string quartet of all, and I just can't figure out why everyone else doesn't share my opinion. 

What is your favorite recording of that work? I've been listening to it and find it intriguing and provoking but not entirely successful (LaSalle Quartet recording).

[mc ukrneal]

Why are some of you interpreting this as 'best of' list or 'favorites' list? Isn't it just a game?

[Sammy]

What is your favorite recording of that work? I've been listening to it and find it intriguing and provoking but not entirely successful (LaSalle Quartet recording).

There are three at the top of my list:

Artis/Nimbus
Schoenberg/Chandos
Escher/Naxos

I've not yet heard the Brodsky on Chandos.

[Baron Scarpia]

There are three at the top of my list:

Artis/Nimbus
Schoenberg/Chandos
Escher/Naxos

I've not yet heard the Brodsky on Chandos.

That means you've heard LaSalle and it is lower on your list?

[Baron Scarpia]

Why are some of you interpreting this as 'best of' list or 'favorites' list? Isn't it just a game?

Well, it's a game in which we want our favorites to win.

[Sammy]

That means you've heard LaSalle and it is lower on your list?

It's been a few years since I listened to the LaSalle version.  I do remember not taking well to the sound quality, although I don't recall any specifics.  At any rate, it didn't impact me to the degree that the other three did.

[Baron Scarpia]

It's been a few years since I listened to the LaSalle version.  I do remember not taking well to the sound quality, although I don't recall any specifics.  At any rate, it didn't impact me to the degree that the other three did.

I find the sound quality ok but not outstanding. I have the Schoenberg/Chandos so I will try that next.

[mc ukrneal]

Well, it's a game in which we want our favorites to win.

That's not how I approached my vote. Perhaps I was the odd man out in that respect. I think in the next game I do, I will take a bit of a different approach out of curiosity...

[Sammy]

Why are some of you interpreting this as 'best of' list or 'favorites' list? Isn't it just a game?

Yes, it's a game that has conclusions.  To me, each game or round is its own world.  I enter this world, develop my strategies, cast my votes and influence/observe the results.

Don't get me wrong.  There's nothing earth shattering going on; the games are for fun and light entertainment.  However, I am a highly competitive person and much prefer that the works I vote for do well than end up in a heap on the floor.  Put another way, I want to win and will do everything I can within the rules to win.

[San Antone]

I want to win and will do everything I can within the rules to win.

Spoken like a true bulldog.   

[Gurn Blanston]

Why are some of you interpreting this as 'best of' list or 'favorites' list? Isn't it just a game?

If, on the list of 10 finalists, 6 of them are works I would pull out in a New York Second and happily listen to, then I feel pretty happy about that. In addition, that leaves 4 works which others I respect have chosen and which I can explore at my leisure. I may like the hell out of them, too.

[Ken B]

If, on the list of 10 finalists, 6 of them are works I would pull out in a New York Second and happily listen to, then I feel pretty happy about that. In addition, that leaves 4 works which others I respect have chosen and which I can explore at my leisure. I may like the hell out of them, too.

Then for me it's a good result as there are 8 I like of which 4 I really like. But it still looks pretty sad, with no Mozart, no Dvorak, no Shostakovich, only one Beethoven and yet a Kurtag.  At least no Ives!

[Sammy]

Then for me it's a good result as there are 8 I like of which 4 I really like. But it still looks pretty sad, with no Mozart, no Dvorak, no Shostakovich, only one Beethoven and yet a Kurtag.  At least no Ives!

You're looking at what's not on the list.  I look at what's actually there, and it looks good to me.  Mozart/Dvorak/Shostakovich/Beethoven have no automatic right to be on a top ten list; actually, I can't think of a single string quartet from anybody that gets an automatic entry.

As for the Kurtag and a few other modernist works being on the list, what would you expect?  We have modernist enthusiasts who really voted in this game; it's only reasonable that they would have some influence on the outcomes.  They said "yes" to Kurtag, and that's what it's all about.  The people have spoken.

[Ken B]

You're looking at what's not on the list.  I look at what's actually there, and it looks good to me.  Mozart/Dvorak/Shostakovich/Beethoven have no automatic right to be on a top ten list; actually, I can't think of a single string quartet from anybody that gets an automatic entry.

As for the Kurtag and a few other modernist works being on the list, what would you expect?  We have modernist enthusiasts who really voted in this game; it's only reasonable that they would have some influence on the outcomes.  They said "yes" to Kurtag, and that's what it's all about.  The people have spoken.

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.

[Sammy]

Yes, democracy permeates the game environment - one person, ten votes. 

[Ken B]

Yes, democracy permeates the game environment - one person, ten votes. 

Chicago style!

[Sammy]

Chicago style!

For Chicago style it's one person, ten votes, twenty guns.

[Baron Scarpia]

You're looking at what's not on the list.  I look at what's actually there, and it looks good to me.  Mozart/Dvorak/Shostakovich/Beethoven have no automatic right to be on a top ten list; actually, I can't think of a single string quartet from anybody that gets an automatic entry.

As for the Kurtag and a few other modernist works being on the list, what would you expect?  We have modernist enthusiasts who really voted in this game; it's only reasonable that they would have some influence on the outcomes.  They said "yes" to Kurtag, and that's what it's all about.  The people have spoken.

The key point being that the game is about the preferences of people who actually show up.