Composer: Erwin Schulhoff
Performer: Pražák Quartet, Vaclav Kunt, Pavel Hůla, Kocian Quartet, Josef Kluson, Jiří Hudec, Michal Kanka
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Praga Digitals
Release: 2004
Size: 1.19 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Five Pieces for String Quartet
01. I. Alla Valse Viennese. Allegro
02. II. Alla Serenata. Allegro con moto
03. III. Alla Czecha. Molto allegro
04. IV. Alla Tango milonga. Andante
05. V. Alla Tarentella. Prestissimo con fuoco
Concertino for Piccolo Flute, Viola and Double Bass
06. I. Andante con fuoco
07. II. Furiant. Allegro furioso
08. III. Andante
09. IV. Rondino. Allegro gaio
Duo for Violin and Cello
10. I. Moderato
11. II. Zingaresca. Allegro giocoso
12. III. Andantino
13. IV. Tempo I. Allegro molto
Sextet for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos
14. I. Allegro risoluto
15. II. Tranquillo. Andante
16. III. Burlesca. Allegro molto con spirito
17. IV. Molto adagio
Isn’t it a terrible shame that the string quartet music of Erwin Schulhoff has to be released as the fourth volume of Praga’s series entitled Czech Degenerate Music! Schulhoff was one of the hottest of the hot generation of Czech composers who came of age after the mindless slaughter of World War I and his music has the rhythmic energy, the savage irony, the sentimental decadence, and the morbid joi de vivre of the zeitgeist. These recordings by the Prazak Quartet and the Kocian Quartet, plus double bassist Jiri Hudec and flutist Václav Kunt, capture the extravagant passion and reckless vigor of Schulhoff’s music and their performances make one regret all the more keenly that it was Goebbels who branded Schulhoff’s music degenerate and the Nazi’s who let him die of typhus at the start of World War II. Praga’s sound is a bit hard but clear and sharp.