Search - Vasks, Riga String Quartet :: String Quartets 2 & 3

Latvian composer Peteris Vasks has often incorporated spirituality and nature into his music (and drawn some well-deserved comparisons to Pärt and Kancheli), but seldom have the results been as riveting as on his second and third string quartets. The second, titled Songs of Summer, transitions from a melancholic opening movement ("Coming into bloom") to a state of restlessness ("Birds") and, finally, sorrow ("Elegy"). These movements seemingly fly by, in no small part due to the Riga String Quartet's impeccable phrasings and obvious love for this music of their homeland. The third quartet--influenced, according to the composer, by the holiday message "Peace on Earth"--offers the listener a greater challenge: hints at a Christmas carol, strains of Latvian folk, and a tough Adagio section that seems on the verge of unraveling. Thankfully, the fourth movement ties the entire work into one gorgeous yet sobering package. Along with the composer's Distant Light symphony, this is Vasks at his best, and a great introduction to the Latvian composer's soulful works. --Jason Verlinde