Mozart - String Quartets

[Madiel]

Everyone here pretty much told me to get the Alban Berg set on Teldec, for the 10 mature quartets.

They weren't wrong. It's highly enjoyable except for one plodding minuet.

[Jo498]

I guess one will almost run the risk of a plodding menuet or two. I find them occasionally even in classical era recordings I like a lot for other reasons.

[Karl Henning]

Okay, I'll ask!  Which menuet plods for you, in there?

[Madiel]

Okay, I'll ask!  Which menuet plods for you, in there?

I believe it was The Hunt.

[Jo498]

I cannot answer it off-hand with examples from string quartets because it's been years that I listened that ABQ recording but I frequently find than menuets in Mozart and Haydn are taken to slowly. There are some that seem to be clearly to be taken in whole bars (close to a waltz/laendler tempo MM 54-60 for dotted halfs) and many ensembles used to play them in measured quarters (MM ca. 120).

[Karl Henning]

I believe it was The Hunt.

Thanks!  When I get home this evening I'll return to it, see if I have a quarrel with it, too . . . .

[Karl Henning]

I cannot answer it off-hand with examples from string quartets because it's been years that I listened that ABQ recording but I frequently find than menuets in Mozart and Haydn are taken to slowly. There are some that seem to be clearly to be taken in whole bars (close to a waltz/laendler tempo MM 54-60 for dotted halfs) and many ensembles used to play them in measured quarters (MM ca. 120).

I certainly see your point;  and in a great many cases, I have a natural inclination to favor the crisper tempi of the HIPsters (as long as they don't lose their heads).  Entertaining the question has me curious to revisit the Alban Berg and the Juilliard Quartets, just to see how I feel about their menuettage.

[George]

I certainly see your point;  and in a great many cases, I have a natural inclination to favor the crisper tempi of the HIPsters (as long as they don't lose their heads).  Entertaining the question has me curious to revisit the Alban Berg and the Juilliard Quartets, just to see how I feel about their menuettage.

I'll be curious as to your findings, Karl.

I just ordered the Alban Berg Mozart Teldec set last night. 

[Karl Henning]

Cheers, George!

[Drasko]

I like Smetana Quartet in K421.

[asin]B003RECFMW[/asin]

and for trivia connoisseurs, it's supposedly the first commercial digital recording (1972).

[Karl Henning]

I believe it was The Hunt.

I can understand this tempo (the Alban Berg Quartet) being too stately for some;  but I find they carry it with grace and energy.  I like it.

[Karl Henning]

I cannot answer it off-hand with examples from string quartets because it's been years that I listened that ABQ recording but I frequently find than menuets in Mozart and Haydn are taken to slowly. There are some that seem to be clearly to be taken in whole bars (close to a waltz/laendler tempo MM 54-60 for dotted halfs) and many ensembles used to play them in measured quarters (MM ca. 120).

And I note that the marking for the Menuetto in the K.458 is Moderato, i.e. slower (more moderate) than in the other "Haydn" Quartets, which are marked Allegretto (K.387, 421 & 428) or Allegro (K.465).  (The marking in the K.464 seems to be simply Menuetto.)

[Madiel]

And I note that the marking for the Menuetto in the K.458 is Moderato, i.e. slower (more moderate) than in the other "Haydn" Quartets, which are marked Allegretto (K.387, 421 & 428) or Allegro (K.465).  (The marking in the K.464 seems to be simply Menuetto.)

Oh yes, both Mozart and Haydn knew how to vary their menuet tempos and meant something by it. Certainly, in the case of Haydn (which I know better because I once went through an exercise of comparing movements), there are some that are definitely 3-in-a-bar and some that are definitely 1-in-a-bar.

My reaction to the Alban Bergs might well be in part because the "Hunt" was a work I was already familiar with from another performance.

[Karl Henning]

Well, my exercise has resulted in a preference for the Alban Berg Quartet over the Juilliards

[George]

Well, my exercise has resulted in a preference for the Alban Berg Quartet over the Juilliards

I sure pleased I bought the ABQ, then!

[George]

The Alban Berg Quartett in "the ten celebrated quartets" is excellent. 

After hearing the first CD, I have to say I am disappointed. The sound thin and the playing lacks warmth. Maybe I will enjoy the other discs more.

[Mandryka]

After hearing the first CD, I have to say I am disappointed. The sound thin and the playing lacks warmth. Maybe I will enjoy the other discs more.

Which one do you have, the Teldec or their second recording?

[George]

Which one do you have, the Teldec or their second recording?

Teldec.

I am now thinking I should have gone with the Italiano set.

[Jo498]

As far as I recall the Teldec recordings they are, if anything, sounding a little *too* warm and thick for Mozart (as opposed to Brahms, Schubert or Dvorak) to my ears... if you find ABQ to thin you should maybe disregard recommendations for e.g. the Hagen or Petersen Quartets.

[Karl Henning]

After hearing the first CD, I have to say I am disappointed. The sound thin and the playing lacks warmth. Maybe I will enjoy the other discs more.

Sorry!