TracksString Quartet No. 1 (1951): I. Fantasia: Maestoso (Quarter Note=72) {M.1} *, String Quartet No. 1 (1951): Allegro Scorrevole (Quartet Note=135) {M.356}, String Quartet No. 1 (1951): II. Allegro Scorrevole (Quarter Note=135) {M.1}, String Quartet No. 1 (1951): Adagio (Quarter Note=36) {M. 57} Variations (Quarter Note=72){M.167}, String Quartet No. 1 (1951): III. Variations (Quarter Note=120) {M.1}, String Quartet No. 2 (1959): Introduction (Quarter Note=105) (M.1), String Quartet No. 2 (1959): I. Allegro Fantastico (Quarter Note=112) (M.35), String Quartet No. 2 (1959): Cadenza for Viola (M. 135), String Quartet No. 2 (1959): II. Presto Scherzando (Quarter Note=175) (M.171), String Quartet No. 2 (1959): Cadenza for Cello (M.243), String Quartet No. 2 (1959): III. Andante Espressivo (Quarter Note=175) (M.286), String Quartet No. 2 (1959):Cadenza for Violin I (M.373), String Quartet No. 2 (1959): IV. Allegro (M.427), String Quartet No. 2 (1959):Conclusion (Quarter Note=105) (M.599), String Quartet No. 3 (1971): Duo II: Maestoso (Giusto Sempre) - Pause - Grazioso - Giusto Meccanico ; Duo I: Furioso (Quasi Rubato Sempre) - Leggerissimo - Andante Espressivo - Pause, String Quartet No. 3 (1971): Duo II: Giusto Meccanico (Cont.) - Pause - Scorrevole; Duo I: Giocoso - Pause, String Quartet No. 3 (1971): Duo II: Scorrevole (Cont.) - Giusto Meccanico - Grazioso; Duo I: Leggerissimo - Furioso - Pause, String Quartet No. 3 (1971): Duo II: Grazioso (Cont.) - Maestoso - Pause; Duo I: Giocoso - Andante Espressivo, String Quartet No. 3 (1971): Duo II: Largo Tranquillo - Appassionato - Largo Tranquillo - Pause; Duo I: Andante Espressivo (Cont.) - Pause - Leggerissimo - Giocoso - Furioso, String Quartet No. 3 (1971): Duo II: Scorrevole - Appassionato - Coda; Duo I: Furioso (Cont.) - Andante Espressivo - Furioso - Coda, String Quartet No. 4 (1986): Appassionato (Half Note=63) {M.1}, String Quartet No. 4 (1986): Scherzando (Stesso Tempo) {M.118}, String Quartet No. 4 (1986): Lento (Stesso Tempo) {M.214}, String Quartet No. 4 (1986): Presto (Half Note=94.5) {M.312}, String Quartet No. 5: Introduction, String Quartet No. 5: Giocoso, String Quartet No. 5: Interlude I, String Quartet No. 5: Lento Espressivo, String Quartet No. 5: Interlude II, String Quartet No. 5: Presto Scorrevole, String Quartet No. 5: Interlude III, String Quartet No. 5: Allegro Energico, String Quartet No. 5: Interlude IV, String Quartet No. 5: Adagio Sereno, String Quartet No. 5: Interlude V, String Quartet No. 5: Capriccioso
NotesElliott Carter's five string quartets are landmarks in the American composer's rich, visionary body of work. And no ensemble has been as essential in bringing these works to life as the Juilliard String Quartet. The members of the quartet were not merely Carter's able executors they premiered the Second and Third Quartets they were his Manhattan neighbors and Juilliard School colleagues. Their performances grew out of a friendship that spanned over half a century. In many ways, the music reflects the personalities and playing styles of the quartet's personnel. Elliott Carter's kaleidoscopic, rigorously organized works established him as one of the most important and enduring voices in contemporary music. The recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes in Music, he composed into his eleventh decade, completing his final work months before his death at 103. Brand new landmark recording of String Quartet #5 that, along with the 1990-91 recordings of String Quartets 1 thru 4, completes the full cycle.