Summer With The Juilliard String Quartet

[JSngry]

The move from ,Columbia to RCA and then back is another story to tell, I would.

One thing I read is that when the JSQ moved back to the Columbia family, they were on Epic because the Budapest Quartet was Columbia's "headliner". It was only after that group disbanded the the JSQ moved from Epic to Columbia. It seems odd to me that there that strict of a heirarchy among quartets on a label that had multiple orchestras and conductors (and pianists?)  on their roster, but I claim no knowledge of that part of that business. None whatsoever.

[JSngry]

Not particularly gripped by this one, but Shubert has never really grabbed me outside of the Lieder.

Probably my "problem"...

[Chuck Nessa]

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

Not particularly gripped by this one, but Shubert has never really grabbed me outside of the Lieder.

Probably my "problem"...

The piano sonatas are more than special for me. Schnabel is my "go to" favorite.

[JSngry]

Bookmarked for future listening, thanks!

[kh1958]

On 6/19/2025 at 9:33 PM, JSngry said:

Not particularly gripped by this one, but Shubert has never really grabbed me outside of the Lieder.

Probably my "problem"...

I have this LP, although in a mono version.

[JSngry]

A classic cover, imo, and a fun listen to boot!

48 minutes ago, kh1958 said:

I have this LP, although in a mono version.

Their first two RCA albums were mono and have come into the digital realm sounding great in that format.

One of my earliest memories of hearing classical music was my first-grase teacher sometimes playing it in class on one of those Stone Age school record players. The music kinda barked itself out of what speaker there was, which made it compelling, if ultimately boring (for a kid).

I can imagine hearing that record like that, just barking it's way out of whatever king of speaker was around. It is a not unappealing thought!

[JSngry]

Hell yeah.

[JSngry]

2 hours ago, JSngry said:

Hell yeah.

William Schuman might not have been as "consistent" or "immaculate" a composer as Copland, but I find him infinitely more "American" in character. A little slop and a little swing, in his own way. And a good amount of some nice changes too 

And Elliott Carter...quantum.

JSQ is totally in their zone here.

Hell yeah for this record. 

RCA Red Seal indeed!

[JSngry]

Per Wiki:

The Second String Quartet by American composer Elliott Carter was completed in 1959. This composition for string quartet was commissioned by the Stanley String Quartet of the University of Michigan, who decided not to play it upon seeing the score, and received its first performance in 1960 by the Juilliard String Quartet.

That's wild. Hey dude - write us a quartet. Here's the money.

You got the score, right? Cool, let's see what we got here...

Uhhhhh....never mind...