a r t i s t : Peter Garland
t i t l e : String Quartets [1 & 2]
d a t e : 2009
l a b e l : coldbluemusic
g e n r e : Classical
r l s. d a t e : Dec/2009
t r a c k s : 11
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 67,8 MB
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The music
"Peter's quartet [No. 1] is the most beautiful thing since
Corelli." ùLou Harrison
"Garland... an avatar of an American experimental tradition
... a composer of mesmerizing music; and in many ways, the
musical conscience of my generationà." ùKyle Gann, Chamber
Music magazine
This CD presents the premiere recordings of two spirited and
enticing quartets that draw on the composer's well-traveled
ear and great sense of personal vision. Both works move with a
unique sense of grace and a sincerity of expression that is
purely Garlandesqueùmarked by a sometimes lively dancing, a
sometimes alluring stasis, and an often sauntering gait that
allow musical ideas to seem to appear intuitively and develop
subconsciously..
Performed and recorded beautifully by members of the renowned
British new music ensemble Apartment House, which has for many
years championed the music of such composers as Christian
Wolf, John Cage, Cornelius Cardew, Philip Corner, and many
other experimental and avant-garde composers at major
festivals throughout Europe.
The composer writes:
String Quartet No. 1, "In Praise of Poor Scholars," was
composed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1986. Commissioned by
Mrs. Betty Freeman (1921-2009), the work is dedicated to James
Tenney (1934-2006), his wife Ann Holloway (1952-1986), and to
the memory of Dane Rudhyar (1895-1985). The title is taken
from a poem by T''ao Ch'ien (365-427). ùPG
1. Rondeau "nouveau"
2. Like an elegant slow dance à
3. Back to the 14th century à
4. To the memory of Dane Rudhyar
5. Son Huasteco (for Jim Tenney); A Walk in the White
Place (for Ann Holloway)
6. Like a simple Indian danceùelegant and eloquent; "Look
this outrage in the eye and put on the dancing music!"
(Carolee Schneeman)
String Quartet No. 2, "Crazy Cloud," was begun in May 1994 at
Koninji Temple (where I was staying at its guest lodgings) in
the hills above the town of Hamochi on Sado Island, Japan, and
was completed in Kreuzberg, Berlin, in the summer of that
year. It is dedicated to Helena de Carvalho Tietjen. Its title
refers to the pen name of poet-priest Ikkyu (1394-1481).
Special thanks to Helena; and to Georg Kochi and Ralph
Samuelson at the Asian Cultural Council; and to Mr. And Mrs.
Kusaka and their daughter at Koninji Temple for the use of
their piano and for giving me 12 sheets of music paper (hence
movement 1 became 12 pages long!). This recording also
represents the work's world premiere performance. ùPG
1. Sado
2. Mori (the blind courtesan and singer who became Ikkyu's
lover)s
3. "Sue±o en Rio Grande" (title of a song by Las Hermanas
Padilla)
4. Blues for Helena
5. "From the Mountains, Returning to the City" (title of a
poem by Ikkyu)
(www.coldbluemusic.com/pages/CB0031.html)
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String Quartet No. 1 "In Praise of Poor Scholars"
01-rondeau 'nouveau' [04:12]
02-like an elegant slow dance ... [03:41]
03-back to the 14th century ... [04:40]
04-to the memory of dane rudhyar [02:33]
05-son huasteco [03:55]
(for jim tenney); a walk in the white place (for ann ho
06-lika a simple indian dance - elegant and eloquent [02:33]
String Quartet No. 2 "Crazy Cloud"
07-sado [07:45]
08-mori [09:51]
(the blind courtesan and singer who became ikkyu's love
09-'sue±o en rio grande' [03:20]
(title of a song by las hermanas padilla)
10-blues for helena [05:44]
11-'from the mountains, returning to the city' [03:19]
(title of a poem by ikkyu)
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51:33 min