Added: Nov 19, 2008
From: merrihew
Duration: 7:9
The Lener Quartet performing Debussy's Quartet for English Columbia in 1928. This is a British pressing in a "bow tie" album. So called because the records were removed from the right side of the sleeves rather than from the top. I guess the idea was to keep out dust. To keep the records from falling out, there were two cords which you tied like a shoe lace. Not a great idea, soon abandoned. The sound is especially good for 1928. Check out the clarity of the string plucking in Part 2. This Quartet was founded by Jeno Lener (1894-1948) in 1918 and it recorded prolifically beginning in 1923. One of the few to make acoustic records which didn't record chamber music particularly well. They recorded the first complete cycle of the Beethoven Quartets beginning in 1927 celebrating the Beethoven Centennial. The original members were together until 1942. In 1945, Lener revived the group but it ceased upon his death in 1948. This is playing in a very Romantic tradition. Lush tone and lots of portamento and rubato. Their style was out of favor within a decade but seems to be generating interest lately with a number of CD reissues. For those who follow my postings you know that I really like this kind of playing. For me, too many modern performances are choppy and too controlled by the metronome.
Channel: Music
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