Search - Gavin Bryars :: Bryars: 3 String Quartets

One great piece, two blah

David J. Smey | Brooklyn, NY United States | 05/02/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Gavin Bryars has become famous for quasi-ambient & somewhat philosophical pieces for large ensembles (like Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet.) The string quartet format doesn't seem to allow him to write the same deep, lush textures, though - what you get here is more straightforward post-minimal writing, not unlike Terry Riley's work for quartet, or even Debussy/Ravel/Britten.



The first quartet ("Between the National and the Bristol") really grabbed me - it manages to create an ominous, suspenseful mood which is later broken by a passionate outburst. 5 stars for that.



The other two struck me as competent but somewhat blah.



Lyric Quartet plays well, I'd also give them four stars. A few weak phrases here and there, intonation and tone could be better, but certainly a decent job."