Haydn's Haus

[Jo498]

I think the point is that even normal-length menuets are often somewhat generic and can easily get boring.

[Karl Henning]

Well, if someone can point out an example of a "generic menuet" in Mozart or Haydn, I am happy to consider the case.

[Jo498]

It's been a while that I listened to them and they are probably better than I recall but I used to find the menuets from Mozart's "Linz" and "Haffner" symphonies, fairly "generic". But they are short, so it's not a problem.

The huge menuets in Haydn's 101 and Mozart's K 387 are anything but generic, though.

[Wakefield]

Arriaga: The Complete String Quartets
La Ritirata

[asin]B00IK18PR6[/asin]

AFAIK, this is the first complete recording of these string quartets on period instruments. Happy coincidence because the interpretations and sound quality are truly excellent. 

Sometimes, Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga (1806-1826) has been called "the Spanish Mozart", but after hearing these string quartets, he sounds closer to Haydn, I think.

[Florestan]

Sometimes, Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga (1806-1826) has been called "the Spanish Mozart", but after hearing these string quartets, he sounds closer to Haydn, I think.

Be it as it may, they are some of the finest string quartets ever penned.

[Gurn Blanston]

Sometimes, Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga (1806-1826) has been called "the Spanish Mozart", but after hearing these string quartets, he sounds closer to Haydn, I think.

I have 2 or 3 recordings of the quartets, but none on PI. I reckon it's about time!  Thanks, Gordo!

[Wakefield]

Be it as it may, they are one of the finest string quartets ever penned.

Yes, they are excellent. I used the previous line essentially to call some (deserved) attention over them. 

[Wakefield]

I have 2 or 3 recordings of the quartets, but none on PI. I reckon it's about time!  Thanks, Gordo!

Yes! I think this is the first interpretation on PI. Well, there is this disk by the Mosaïques:





... but, apparently, no gut-strings here. 

[Karl Henning]

... but, apparently, no gut-strings here. 

You're making the cats more nervous than if they saw a Chinese chef with a cleaver . . . .

[Wakefield]

You're making the cats more nervous than if they saw a Chinese chef with a cleaver . . . .

Actually, some years ago I and three friends founded an institution called "Cat's Gut Club" ("Club Tripa de Gato" in Spanish)... We have periodical meetings to share some beers and ideas about music... 

[Harry]

My set arrived and I started listening today.  Uh-oh!

I can't figure out what it is, but there is a noise is, like a "pop" or "click" sound, but it's on my set and two others that I tried from completely different sources. It can be easily heard intermittently throughout the set, but clearly heard on such movements as track 11, CD 01 and track 02, CD 02. 

Can folks who have this set please check and see if you hear the noise and can tell me what it is? It's on Spotify as well.

I have sampled the cd's on which you hear a clicking noise, not on my set I am afraid so its a pressing issue I guess.

I played them through my near field monitors, they are very analytical and if something is wrong you'll hear it, whatever there is that should not be there.

[SonicMan46]

Sometimes, Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga (1806-1826) has been called "the Spanish Mozart", but after hearing these string quartets, he sounds closer to Haydn, I think.

I have 2 or 3 recordings of the quartets, but none on PI. I reckon it's about time!  Thanks, Gordo!

Concerning the Arriaga String Quartets, I own just one recording (shown below) - the Naxos website describes the group below as 'performing on authentic instruments', but there is nothing more offered in the liner notes, so not sure if their instruments are indeed PIs and cannot comment on 'gut strings' - Dave

The four versatile musicians, Massimo Spadano (1st violin), Mauro Rossi (2nd violin), David Quiggle (viola) and Luigi Piovano (cello), who make up the Camerata Boccherini have a particular interest in performing Baroque and Classical music on authentic instruments. The Camerata Boccherini is a frequent guest at the festivals of Berlin, Paris, Milan, New York, Salzburg, Minori, London, Amsterdam, Vienna, Washington, Boston, Munich, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Tokyo, Helsinki and Zurich. Its players perform on authentic Italian instruments.

[George]

I have sampled the cd's on which you hear a clicking noise, not on my set I am afraid so its a pressing issue I guess.

I played them through my near field monitors, they are very analytical and if something is wrong you'll hear it, whatever there is that should not be there.

Thanks, Harry.

The label has still not responded to my email either.

I decided to let the amazon third party seller know what was going on and requested a refund. They (86books) refunded my money 4 minutes later and said to keep the set. 

[Karl Henning]

Thanks, Harry.

The label has still not responded to my email either.

I decided to let the amazon third party seller know what was going on and requested a refund. They (86books) refunded my money 4 minutes later and said to keep the set. 

Good customer service.

[Gurn Blanston]

Good customer service.

My guess would be it isn't the first time they've heard this complaint about it.

Glad Harry happened to pop in. 

[Bogey]

Thanks, Harry.

The label has still not responded to my email either.

I decided to let the amazon third party seller know what was going on and requested a refund. They (86books) refunded my money 4 minutes later and said to keep the set.

Let them know in a follow email how impressed we are with their service buddy.

[Wakefield]

Concerning the Arriaga String Quartets, I own just one recording (shown below) - the Naxos website describes the group below as 'performing on authentic instruments', but there is nothing more offered in the liner notes, so not sure if their instruments are indeed PIs and cannot comment on 'gut strings' - Dave

Yes, the booklet states that they are playing "authentic Italian instruments", but there is something weird here because those instruments (particularly the first violin) sound quite modern to me. Maybe the strings and bows are modern; although I may be wrong.

[Gurn Blanston]

Yes, the booklet states that they are playing "authentic Italian instruments", but there is something weird here because those instruments (particularly the first violin) sound quite modern to me. Maybe the strings and bows are modern; although I may be wrong.

You see this all the time. Joshua Bell, for example, plays an 'authentic Italian instrument", a Strad, in fact. Of course, it has been revised and 'modernized' and has metal strings etc. It is, however, an authentic Italian instrument. I have seen this sort of thing many dozens of times, I've learned it means nothing, really...

[Jo498]

Is there no thread for Arriaga? It seems a pity to have this buried in a 500+ pages Haydn thread...

[Wakefield]

You see this all the time. Joshua Bell, for example, plays an 'authentic Italian instrument", a Strad, in fact. Of course, it has been revised and 'modernized' and has metal strings etc. It is, however, an authentic Italian instrument. I have seen this sort of thing many dozens of times, I've learned it means nothing, really...

Actually, IIRC, the booklets of the Buchbergers say (or suggest by describing them) that they play the Haydn quartets on "original instruments".