The Four and the One: In Praise of String Quartets

by David Rounds

Why have so many great composers reserved some of their most profound, personal music for their string quartets? This question has always fascinated musicians and chamber music lovers; in this book,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1882897269
• ISBN13: 9781882897261
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Lost Coast Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Multi-faceted approach to the String Quartet

A fascinating introduction to the String Quartet as a musical form. Rounds starts from an introduction to the lives of the four women of the British Columbia based Lafayette String Quartet. From their life histories and rehearsals for a recording of the Borodin Quartet Number 2 he adventures into an exposition of the history of the string quartet form, the working lives and career stresses of string quartet players, vignettes of the personalities of former quartets such as the Budapest and the Guarneri etc. The book has musical examples. It ends with personal recommendations for quartets from Haydn to Shostakovitch and contemporary composers such as Terry Riley. A very rewarding, well-written, informative read.

Must reading for all music lovers!

Whether you've never heard a string quartet in your life, or whether you're a lifelong aficionado, The Four & the One will rivet your attention from the first page. This unique book traverses a wide range of topics, from the technical aspects of music making to the status of western classical music at the millenium. The author's knowledge is encyclopedic, yet his writing is deft and his love for the music shines through every page. Strongly recommended!