String Quartets Book IX op. 71 and 74-Haydn dedicated the series of Quartets op. 71 and 74 to the Hungarian Count Apponyi a Viennese patron of music and a freemason friend. Haydn composed them when he was enjoying a great deal ofsuccess with his 'London Symphonies' in England. With their weighty slow introductions and dense movements focusing on sound they also have symphonic characteristics. In particular the Quartet in g minor op. 74 3 isstriking on account of its expressiveness and originality. Due to the rhythmic drive of the outer movements it was give the epithet 'Rider Quartet'. The study edition complements the parts of the 'ApponyiQuartets' which are already available in Henle Urtext.

Madrigals are vocal compositions and can be traced back to 13th Century Italy. During the latter part of the 16th Century Nicholas Yonge of St. Paul's Cathedral in London published a collection of Italian Madrigals and translated the words into English. Thomas Morley organist of St. Pauls and around the same time as nicholas Yonge wrote many of the finest madrigals of this the greatest madrigal period. It was a very rich period of English musical compoosition made so by such illustrious names as Byrd Gibbons Tallis and Weelkes. Madrigal societies are still active and date from 1741 when the first was formed in the City of London. America also has participated in therevival of singing madrigals and has activated madrigal singing in universities and high schools.

Par PART ARVO. Fratres (original setting for violin and piano) was commissioned by the Salzburg Festival and premiered on August 17th, 1980 at that very place (violin: Gidon Kremer, piano: Elena Kremer). Composed in Pärt's very own 'Tintinnabuli'-style, this piece allows many different settings because it is not bound to a specific tone color. 'The highest virtue of music, for me, lies outside of its mere sound. The particular timbre of an instrument is part of the music, but it is not the most important element. If it were, I would be surrendering to the essence of the music. Music must exist of itself … two, three notes … the essence must be there, independent of the instruments.' (Arvo Pärt)/ Répertoire / Quatuor à Cordes

La musique de chambre est un élément essentiel d'apprendre à jouer d'un instrument, et ces quatuors polyvalents sont écrits de sorte qu'ils peuvent être effectuées par n'importe quelle combinaison de quatre instruments à cordes. Organisé par l'éminent pédagogue chaîne Doris Gazda, ces pièces se fera entendre pleine et satisfaisante avec seulement quatre joueurs tout le chemin jusqu'à un orchestre à cordes.La sélection de la musique dans cette collection couvre une grande variété de styles musicaux qui offrent des heures de plaisir et de la performance des options. Progressivement organisé par niveau de difficulté que l'avance les artistes dans leurs compétences, ces quatuors sont un ajout bienvenu au répertoire de tous les instrumentistes à cordes. / Violon