Chamber music

[Daedalus]

Hello all,

After listening to Mahler on an almost obsessive compulsive basis for the last few months, and thoroughly enjoying myself, I feel as though it is time to try something quite different!  (Ironic or sarcastic comments to a minimum please )

At the moment, I feel like leaving the symphony genre well alone for a little while so that I can come back to it later feeling refreshed and in a new frame of mind (if that makes any sense?)
I thought about trying some string quartets or something more low key and on a much lower scale. However, I don't know quite where to start. This is where the good people of this forum come in (hopefully)! 

My knowledge is negligible in this area - I guess an obvious place to start would be with Beethoven's string quartets, as I love his symphonies and concertos. I have also heard some of Schoenberg's chamber symphonies and have these on my 'to listen to' list but I think the more modernist types of chamber works should come after some initial exploration of classical period works.

Anyway, to the point - I would particularly like to hear some recommendations about where is best to get started but also, I would especially like to hear about any good guides or books about the genre of chamber music.

Thank you for reading,
D.

[SonicMan46]

Well, concerning a book, Melvin Berger's guide is of recent vintage (2001) and is in paperback - this is the third edition & is by far the best and most complete - highly recommended!

Now, you might want to provide some more general guidelines as to 'what' you might like, e.g. number of instruments (trios, quartets, quintets, or more!), kinds of instruments (i.e. piano, strings, winds, and/or combos), and periods.  Just as a starter for the Classical & Romantic periods, some of my favorite composers of chamber works include Boccherini, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, Faure, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Schubert, and Schumann; of course, there are many more who could be mentioned - good luck in your quest - 

[Daedalus]

Thank you both for your replies - I will certainly be checking out some of these recommendations, starting with a purchase of the Melvin Berger guide. I always think having a good guide is key to exploring and finding music that you like in a new area.

Another one of the reasons I am wanting to delve into the genre is because I am getting married in the summer and I am thinking of perhaps having a string quartet or something similar. I would like to have a few pieces of beautiful music in mind for that event and the best way to find something I like is, obviously, to listen to as much as possible!

I have it in mind to start in the obvious places first, i.e. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms etc., of whose symphonies and concertos I am already very familiar. I will certainly be putting Bartok on my list to investigate along with Stravinky and Schoenberg. I have enjoyed what I have heard of the more modernist composers.

Again, thank you for your suggestions.

D.

[Bonehelm]

DSCH quartets with Emerson
LvB quartets with Emerson

These are a chamber collectors' must have....

[Peregrine]

These are a chamber collectors' must have....

Sure. I really wonder how much you've actually listened to, to be honest. I suspect SFA

[Bonehelm]

Sure. I really wonder how much you've actually listened to, to be honest. I suspect SFA

Sure. I wonder how much trolling you do on the forums everyday.

[Peregrine]

Sure. I wonder how much trolling you do on the forums everyday.

None at all. I really don't have the time to be pissing about. I'ld just like to urge a degree of caution to the novice collector when some buffoon is recommending the Emerson SQ as 'must haves'. Whilst competent at best, they're hardly the last word in ensemble for the Shostakovich and Beethoven SQ's. But I'm sure you know that of course.

You're the Jando fan, right? 

[DavidW]

DSCH quartets with Emerson

These are a chamber collectors' must have....

Agreed.  I haven't heard them in LvB, but their DSCH is a breath of fresh air, I loved their recordings so much that I listened to them over and over for weeks.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Agreed.  I haven't heard them in LvB, but their DSCH is a breath of fresh air, I loved their recordings so much that I listened to them over and over for weeks.

Yeah, the Emerson's Shostakovich is superb. Very probing and full of intensity.

Sounds like a good rec to me!

[SonicMan46]

Boy, let's get back into focus for the desires of the OP, who seems to be 'new' to chamber music needs - although I own Shosty & Beethoven complete SQs sets (and partials by others), I'm not sure these are the 'first best' recommedations here - I (and am sure others) can make a lot of suggestions, but we need some more advice - Daedalus, please provide some directions; otherwise, you'll goin' to get innumerable comments, including suggestions to provide 'complete sets' of string quartets by composers who you may HATE!  Just trying to help here? 

[Keemun]

Daedalus, I recently began focusing more on chamber music after a long period of listening primarily to orchestral music.  Here are some works I have and like that you might want to check out:

String Quartets
Beethoven: String Quartets Nos. 7-9, Op. 59, "Razumovsky" and No. 15, Op. 132
Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 76
Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 6
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8
Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 "Death and the Maiden"
Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1

Sonatas
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas (start with the named ones)
Brahms: Cello Sonatas
Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano

Other
Bach: Cello Suites
Dvorak: Piano Trio in E Minor, "Dumky"
Chopin (various solo piano works)
Mozart: String Quintet No. 4

[Wanderer]

Outside the string quartet genre, I would suggest you start with Beethoven's violin sonatas (Kremer/Argerich) and cello sonatas (Maisky/Argerich). Your liking for Beethoven will probably intensify.

[The new erato]

I'ld just like to urge a degree of caution to the novice collector when some buffoon is recommending the Emerson SQ as 'must haves'. Whilst competent at best, they're hardly the last word in ensemble for the Shostakovich and Beethoven SQ's.

Count me in the same camp. Usually technically flawless, but usually also too cool and detached for me. Same with their Bartok.

Instead listen to quartets inside the idiom;

For Shostakovich: Beethoven, Borodin quartets
For Beethoven: Busch, Vegh, Talich, Budapest
For Bartok: Hungarian, Vegh, Takacs......

In short, the Emersons may be valuable alternate views, but very seldom IMO the FIRST set you start with.

[Daedalus]

we need some more advice - Daedalus, please provide some directions

Sonic Man - I have been listening to classical for around a year and primarily focused on orchestral music. In the past, I have always loved works on a huge scale hence my love of Mahler. I haven't got too far off the beaten track yet, as I consider myself to be just starting out in the wonderful world of classical music. Some favourite composers, who I am very familiar with in terms of symphonies and concertos: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Sibelius, Elgar, Shostakovitch - those form the basis of my classical education so far. I have heard plenty of other composers but haven't 'studied' them in any depth (i.e. I have heard lots of music on the radio but haven't engaged in repeated listens). I like the sound of many of the modernist composers, such as Schoenberg - I recently saw one of his chamber symphonies performed prior to a performance of Mahler's 7th and I was very curious to hear more.
In terms of chamber music, I have barely any knowledge at all. I have heard some of the late Beethoven string quartets and his piano sonatas but very little else.

Thank you for the suggestions from Erato, Wanderer and Keemun . I really love the cello concertos of Elgar and Dvorak - I love the sonorous, melancholic and doleful sound of the cello - so I think I might have to begin with the suggested cello pieces by Brahms and Beethoven. I enjoy piano music as well, having played the instrument (albeit poorly) during my younger years.

Is this the sort of direction you were looking for Sonic Man ?

I would like to ask another question. What is it that has drawn all of you to chamber music? Is it the main genre that you listen to or something you occasionally return to?

Part of the reason I am interested in exploring it, is that I heard a piece of music on the radio the other day (unfortunately did not hear who by) and the radio presenter commented on the 'intense and intimate' experience of listening to smaller scale music. My curiosity grew!

D.

[The new erato]

I love the sonorous, melancholic and doleful sound of the cello - so I think I might have to begin with the suggested cello pieces by Brahms and Beethoven.

In which case you also ought to investigate the two two-cello sextets of Brahms. I like the Amadeus versions on DG.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Count me in the same camp. Usually technically flawless, but usually also too cool and detached for me. Same with their Bartok.

Instead listen to quartets inside the idiom;

For Shostakovich: Beethoven, Borodin quartets
For Beethoven: Busch, Vegh, Talich, Budapest
For Bartok: Hungarian, Vegh, Takacs......

In short, the Emersons may be valuable alternate views, but very seldom IMO the FIRST set you start with.

"Inside the idiom"??

So if a performer or group of performers originate from places like the western hemisphere or the far east - including the entire Pacific theater - they're automatically behind the curve as far as performing insight?

IOW, it's the 'B list' for all musicians outside the tiny European bubble?

Do you smell where this is going.....?

[Lady Chatterley]

Try French chamber music,some of the best music I've ever heard.Lalo,Lekeu,Saint Seans, actually no yet met a piece of French Chamber music that I haven't enjoyed.

[ChamberNut]

Daedalus, I recently began focusing more on chamber music after a long period of listening primarily to orchestral music.  Here are some works I have and like that you might want to check out:

String Quartets
Beethoven: String Quartets Nos. 7-9, Op. 59, "Razumovsky" and No. 15, Op. 132
Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 76
Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 6
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8
Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 "Death and the Maiden"
Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1

Sonatas
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas (start with the named ones)
Brahms: Cello Sonatas
Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano

Other
Bach: Cello Suites
Dvorak: Piano Trio in E Minor, "Dumky"
Chopin (various solo piano works)
Mozart: String Quintet No. 4

Very good starter list there for someone starting their chamber music "journey", Keemun. 

I'd like to add Bach's sonatas and partitas for solo violin.  And Mendelssohn's Octet for strings.

[DavidW]

Best bet: go with the chamber works of your favorite orchestral composers.  If you like Elgar and Dvorak as you said you did, then listen to their chamber works.

[BachQ]

Best bet: go with the chamber works of your favorite orchestral composers. 

I like Mahler, Wagner, and Verdi.  So which chamber works would you recommend?