Search - Vagn Holmboe :: Vagn Holmboe: String Quartets, Vol. 6

Holmboe at his most austere

Christopher Culver | 04/01/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"In the 1990s Dacapo recorded Vagn Holmboe's complete numbered string quartets performed by the Kontra Quartet, a series that reached seven volumes. Though these are now somewhat difficult to find, there are still plenty of copies floating around, and Dacapo is planning a reissue someday. This sixth volume include the Danish composer's Seventeenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth efforts in the genre. The Kontra Quartet is Anton Kontra (violin), Boris Samsing (violin), Peter Fabricius (viola) and Morten Zeuthen (cello).



The Seventeenth through Twentieth got titles based on times of the day. The String Quartet No. 17 op. 152 (1982) is "Mattinata", the String Quartet No. 19 op. 156 (1983) is "Serata" and the String Quartet No. 20 op. 160 (1984) is "Notturno". (The String Quartet No. 18 "Giornata" is on Vol. 7). However, Holmboe warned against any literal interpretation of these titles, and in fact all three quartets here sound very similar indeed. This is some of the most austere music Holmboe composed. There is much to enjoy in the clarity of the lines and the fine balance of the four instruments -- Holmboe was a skillful writer of quartets. However, I find these less appealing than the composer's earlier quartets. Each in six movements, they go on far longer than their material should allow."