No. 1 d minor op. 77 and No. 2 A mejor op. 90. Par RAFF JOSEPH JOACHIM. He had been there as Franz Liszt?s assistant since 1850 and had made a name for himself in the city?s art scene now he embarked on new paths. He already composed his second Quartet in A major, op. 90, in Wiesbaden, the spa town that was to become his home for 21 years. The two quartets are unequivocal works: orchestrally-conceived, full of energetic vigor, and at times uncompromisingly modern. They confidently continue the Beethoven tradition and attest at the same time to Raff?s intensive confrontation with Richard Wagner?s music during the Weimar years. In his chamber music, the composer wanted to achieve progress ?in an inherently historical way? and ?toground the individual substance in existing forms,? as he told the Viennese violinist Josef Hellmesberger, who launched opus 77. The quartets, first published in 1860/62, found illustrious interpreters, among them, the Müller brothers? renowned ensemble, to which opus 90 was also dedicated, and Joseph Joachim. / Date parution : 2021-11-25/ Répertoire / Quatuor à Cordes

Dense movement structures dialogizing in pairs and a darkened overall sound are what Mozart, Schubert and Brahms already thought to be fascinating in the genre of string quartet. Following this tradition, the composer and violist Brett Dean created 'Epitaphs', an homage to five recently departed colleagues and friends to each of whom is dedicated one movement of the 20-minute work. It was premiered at the Cheltenham Festival 2010 by Dean and the Australian String Quartet. / Quatuor A Cordes

Score and Parts-A fascinating and deeply personal work from a major contemporary composer. Duration ca. 22 minutes.