The E-Flat Major String Quartet Op. 127 is a key work not only in Beethoven’s oeuvre but in the entire history of the genre. The first of the late quartets it 'transfers the formal and symbolicaspects of his two major works for Chorus and Orchestra [the Missa solemnis and the Ninth Symphony] to the more intimate domain of chamber music' (William Kinderman). For years music lovers have been waiting for a new editionbased on the scholarly text from the new Beethoven Gesamtausgabe. The wait has paid off! The highly complex source situation was examined for the first time and thus Beethoven’s 'final intentions' are nowavailable in an urtext edition. The set of parts (HN 740) and the score (HN 9740) both come with a detailed preface and editorial notes.

String Quartet a minor op. 132-Attention String quartet players: the long wait is over! Henle launches its series of late Beethoven quartets with Op. 131 in c sharp minor and Op. 132 in a minor using the definitive urtext from theBeethoven Gesamtausgabe. It need hardly be added that great care was taken to find sensible page turns. The quartets will also appear simultaneously in miniature scores with exactly the same text and commentary. Theeditor Emil Platen has given each volume detailed critical comments consisting of a preface explanatory footnotes and an impressive section of editorial remarks. All of Beethoven‘s late String quartets are scheduledfor subsequent publication in the Gesamtausgabe. Franz Beyer the authority on String quartets with regard to this new issue: 'The most significant edition over the last twenty years worldwide!'

Attention String quartet players: the long wait is over! Henle launches its series of late Beethoven quartets with Op. 131 in c sharp minor and Op. 132 in a minor using the definitive urtext from theBeethoven Gesamtausgabe. It need hardly be added that great care was taken to find sensible page turns. The quartets will also appear simultaneously in miniature scores with exactly the same text and commentary. Theeditor Emil Platen has given each volume detailed critical comments consisting of a preface explanatory footnotes and an impressive section of editorial remarks. All of Beethoven‘s late String quartets are scheduledfor subsequent publication in the Gesamtausgabe. Franz Beyer the authority on String quartets with regard to this new issue: 'The most significant edition over the last twenty years worldwide!'

Jouni Kaipainen's String Quartet No. 6 'The Terror Run' Op. 92. Commissioned by the BBC Radio for the Proms concerts 2010. Dedicated to the Meta4 Quartet. Parts available: WH31197A Programme note: My former experience in writing string quartets has made me used to the idea that a piece of mine in this genre lasts close to half an hour and consists of several movements with different characters. This time the commission clearly stated a duration of 12 minutes and this naturally brought about lots of thinking and orientating. Eventually I luckily found out that I actually can alter mybasic “string quartet philosophy” so that such a short piece became an existing option. In the music itself there is nothing very much to explain. The quartet is for the most part quite lively flowing music in fast tempi. In the very beginning there is something haunting in the atmosphere but soon joyful for the most part delicately light at times maybe also “dance-like” characters take over.  But in terms of dramaturgy   the music has a tendency to grow more weighty and harsh and these quasi-violent elements gradually threaten the sunny unproblematic flow. Closer to the end we come to a point where nothing is easy anymore. This brings about a slow section of quite different nature and after that the former hilarious swing tries to make a comeback – but does not really succeed. The run goes on but the overtones are now more shadowy and the mood on the scary side. The subtitle comes from the novel The Camomile Lawn (1984) by Mary Wesley of which Ken Taylor made a wonderful TV series adaptation for Channel 4 (1992) where a marvellous casting of great actors supports the colourful beautiful and delightful story. In this novel young Sophie (gorgeously played by the 10-year-old Rebecca Hall) has eagerly waited for her older cousins to arrive to her aunt’s house at the