Pour Quator á Cordes-Born in 1947 Laurent Duvillier-Wable trained under pianist Suzanne Joly and studied composition with Michel Puig. The latter a student of Ren? Leibowitz introduced him to the mysteries of Sch?nberg and Webern's twelve-note composition. To create a coherent œuvre Duvillier-Wable drew on the array of possibilities offered by chamber music in his series of six Sonatas composed between 1992 and 2007. Sonata IV For String Quartet was written in 1994 the year his father – painter Ren? Duvillier a friend of Charles Estienne and Andr? Breton – fell gravely ill. Divided into four movements thecomposition contains two beautifully expressive musical references: the Lamento religioso refers to Bach's Passion according to Saint Matthew by quoting the choral 'Was ist die Ursache aller solcher Plagen' (No.19: What is the cause of all this suffering?) when Jesus distressed by his imminent agony asks his disciples to watch over him. The Agitato final borrows the inexorable 'Must it be? It must!' theme from Beethoven's Quartet No.16 in F that crowns this poignant work.

Bach was considered the master of choral music composing over 200cantatas. This sumptuous arrangement of Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring for string quartet now gives players the chance to experience thejoy of Bach at his best.

Score-Morton Gould's Vivaldi Gallery for String Quartet and Divided Orchestra.Vivalid Gallery is based on materials drawn from various orchestral chamber and choral works of AntonioVivaldi. It was first performed by Milton Katims and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra in the Seattle Opera House on March 25 1968. The same artists have recorded Vivaldi Gallery for RCA Victor.

Premiered by the Takács String Quartet in 2004 Carl Vine?s String Quartet No.4 is a dark and pensive work. Split into two equal parts this acerbic 15-minute exploration of conflict without resolution with angular rhythmic gestures set abruptly against a brooding chorale would make an imposing addition to any quartet?s repertoire.

Par WIBERNY HEINER. Heiner Wiberny has written this joyful composition for his wife Ulla, who has a special affinity for African Music. The listener recognizes immediately the sound and flavor of 'African Highlife” and 'Latin Funk”. The composition consists of the following parts: chorale-intro, prelude, ABA-theme, transition, violin- and violasolos with 'break'-intros, prelude, AB-theme, Coda. The soloists may play either the written transcriptions or their own improvised solos, whereby the corresponding ensemble sections can be repeated. The phrase markings offer help in the correct stylistic interpretation of the piece, but they can also be changed according to the individual preferences. 'Klaus the fiddler” (Klaus der Geiger) gave the world premier of this work with the String Quartet of the Cologne Kunst-Salon Orchestra (Streichquartett des Kölner Kunstsalonorchesters). Klaus and the string quartet deserve my special thanks./ Répertoire / Quatuor à Cordes