Brooklyn Rider

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Edward Arron, cello

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Purcell – Fantasia Upon One Note

An Englishman, Henry Purcell is generally recognized one of the greatest composers of the Baroque period.” His Fantasias were written for  a viol (a precursor to the violin) consort in 1680; to this day, they are considered to be the most profound chamber works written before Haydn and Mozart’s string quartets almost a century later. . Purcell wrote the Fantasias when he was only 20 years old. He did not attempt to have them published, because the viol consort had become outmoded by 1680 and they featured a brilliant contrapuntal (using many “voices” or parts) style that was considered old hat by then.

Boccherini – String Quintet in E Major, G. 288

Italian composer and cellist Luigi Boccherini wrote his String Quintet in E Major in 1771 for his patron, the brother of King Charles III of Spain. Boccherini wrote many pieces for the court’s resident string quartet ; when he wished to join the ensemble he added an extra cello part to the score. The third movement of this piece, the “minuetto”, is often called “The Celebrated Minuet” became one of Boccherini’s most popular works after its use in the original Alec Guinness .version of “The Ladykillers”

Beethoven – String Quartet in c sharp minor, Op. 131

Beethoven’s c sharp minor quartet was written during what historians call his “late” period, when his compositions were so intensely personal that they could hardly be understood by his contemporaries. His six string quartets were his last works, composed only a few years after his Ninth Symphony, while he was very sick and very deaf. When a friend asked Beethoven which of his quartets he considered his best, he replied “Each in its own way…….Art demands that we should not stand still.” However, Beethoven later confided that the Opus 131 was indeed his greatest string quartet.