Taneyev: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 4 Carpe Diem String Quartet

• Sergei Taneyev (1856-1915): String Quartet No. 9 in A major (1883)
• 1I. Allegro moderato08:35
• 2II. Andante06:41
• 3III. Scherzo: Allegro con fuoco07:34
• 4IV. Allegro giocoso08:14
• String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major, Op. 19 (1905)
• 5I. Allegro giusto11:18
• 6II. Adagio serioso08:38
• 7III. Giga: Molto vivace06:03
• 8IV. Allegro moderato08:41
• Total Runtime01:05:44

Info for Taneyev: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 4

A pupil of Tchaikovsky, who called him the ‘Russian Bach’, Sergey Taneyev is best known today for his four symphonies, although he also composed a sizeable body of chamber music, including nine complete String Quartets. Quartet No. 9 is a memorably melodic work, while the beautifully crafted Quartet No. 6, his last completed quartet, is rather more austere, though marked by a playful Jig, and even more masterful in construction.

Carpe Diem String Quartet

Carpe Diem String Quartet
One of the most unique and sought-after chamber ensembles on the concert stage today, the Carpe Diem String Quartet performed over 90 concerts in 33 states across the USA in the 2011-12 season, most recently playing for an audience of over 4000 at the Redlands Bowl in southern California. Carpe Diem is a boundary-breaking ensemble that has earned widespread critical and audience acclaim for its innovative programming and electrifying performances. With programming that reflects its passions for Gypsy, tango, folk, pop, rock, and jazz-inspired music alongside the traditional string quartet repertoire, Carpe Diem has defied easy classification while quickly becoming one of America’s premier “indie” string quartets.

The quartet continues to rack up accolades and awards. For three consecutive years, Carpe Diem was the only quartet in America chosen to receive the prestigious PNC Foundation’s ArtsAlive Awards, and they have received rave reviews such as:

“Extraordinary…” “The Carpe Diem’s performance of Beethoven’s Op. 59 No. 1 quartet (one of the hardest in the repertoire) had everything: care with dynamics and accents, timing of nuances, clarity of voice-leading and the widest ranges of character in each movement. This was one of the finest performances of a quartet standard I’ve heard in years.” “…Fun and sexy…” “Among these contemporary quartets who speak in different tongues, the Carpe Diem is the best one out there.”

Booklet for Taneyev: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 4