Mozart composed a set of 6 String Quartets, dedicated to his mentor, Josef Haydn, in 1782-85, the second of which is the only one in a minor key and which Australia’s own Acacia Quartet skilfully pairs with a contemporary work by young Australian composer Alice Chance and Dvorak’s famous “American” Quartet in F Op.96 on their latest of 10 CDs in their discography.
Mozart’s String Quartet No. 15 in D minor K421 Allegro first movement begins with the first violinist, Lisa Stewart, stating both the intense dark main theme and the more lyrical second subject, material later shared by second violinist, Myee Clohessy, violist, Stefan Duwe, and cellist, Anna Martin-Scrase. All 4 players combine well to provide interesting and varied harmonies. The second movement Andante starts gently in a brighter relative key of F major but soon reverts to the sombre dignified D minor key. The third movement Menuetto (Allegretto) & Trio commences with a turbulent Menuetto in D minor followed by a contrasting light-hearted Trio in its tonic major of D. The Trio is similar in nature to a Viennese serenade, with Stewart playing a rhythmic syncopated main theme with pizzicato accompaniment from the other strings. The finale, Allegretto ma non troppo, is a set of variations in 6/8 time, an Italian pastoral dance form called a “siciliano”. The cohesion of the Quartet throughout this dark melodious movement in D minor, each instrument taking turns with virtuosic solos, is the highlight of the work.
Chance’s String Quartet No. 2, nicknamed “Sundried”, was commissioned for the Acacia Quartet several years ago. It is an impressionistic work comprising 4 movements. The composer explains in the extensive sleeve notes that “As a person with synaesthesia, I conceptualise music in vivid colours and textures.” The first movement, Exposure, reflects time-lapse photography involving stillness and transparency while the second movement, Dribble Castle, portrays the playful process of building a sand castle. The fast third movement, Tomatoes, reflects the shaking of a tomato plant that results in hundreds of cherry tomatoes falling off. The final movement, Aloe Vera, is the cool antidote to the rather dissonant first movement.
Dvorak ‘s “American” Quartet, composed when he was staying in a small town in the US in 1893, begins with the violist, Duwe, presenting the quiet opening “tremolandi” pentatonic theme followed by the darker restrained complementary subject played by the violin. The group provides a well-balanced reading of the movement. The slow movement, Lento, features melancholic melody of great poignancy, made more so by the cello playing it last. The third movement, Molto vivace, is a bright scherzo with 2 contrasting themes that share a dotted rhythmic pattern. A further variant played beautifully by Stewart is thought to be a song of a bird called a scarlet tanager, heard when Dvorak was walking in the countryside. The Finale: Vivace ma non troppo is an energetic exuberant movement, possibly adapted from native American Indian drumming. A chorale in the middle of the movement provides contrast before ending with a joyous flourish.
Acacia String Quartet’s album was made possible by the Australian, MOVE record label
“There is a very real need for Australian performers and composers to be recognised through the recording process. From its inception in 1968, Move has provided the means for Australia’s best classical and innovative musicians to have their work recorded, published, and exposed to the public.”
MORE INFORMATION ON THE CD HERE
