Fauré approached the string quartet genre late in life due to a 'reverential fear' of the Central European tradition, stating that Beethoven gave it a particular lustre.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Many French composers viewed writing a string quartet as an obligatory step or a confrontation with a tradition considered far removed from French aesthetic ideals.
Performer Biography
Quartetto Noûs, formed in 2011, is an acclaimed chamber music ensemble that has studied with members of the Quartetto di Cremona, Hagen Quartet, Alban Berg Quartet, and Artemis Quartet.
Historical Context
French musicians historically showed a detached attitude towards the string quartet, often writing only one or none, as it was considered a Central European genre.
Composition History
Ravel's Introduction et Allegro for string quartet, flute, clarinet & harp was commissioned by the Érard company to launch a new harp model.
Composer Biography
Maurice Ravel, the composer of the String Quartet in F and Introduction & Allegro, was a pupil of Gabriel Fauré, to whom he affectionately dedicated his quartet.
Composition History
Gabriel Fauré's String Quartet in E minor, Op. 121, was his last composition, written in the final months of his life at the age of seventy-nine.
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Live from the Marlboro Music Festival - Ravel & Debussy
Debussy: String Quartet No. 1 / Ravel: String Quartet in F / Introduction and Allegro
Dvořák: Quartets Nos. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, B. 179 "American" & 14 in A-Flat Major, Op. 105, B. 193
