[drg371950]

Does anyone here enjoy string quartets? If so, please list some of your favorites, and if you downloaded them from a particular music site, where was it?

Here's one I'd like to recommend:

Rautavaara, string quartets 1 & 2 (as well as his string quintet), available on eMusic. The sound quality is superb, and the music, while being perhaps a bit modern for some ears, is accessible.

-Dan

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by drg371950

Does anyone here enjoy string quartets? If so, please list some of your favorites, and if you downloaded them from a particular music site, where was it?

Here's one I'd like to recommend:

Rautavaara, string quartets 1 & 2 (as well as his string quintet), available on eMusic. The sound quality is superb, and the music, while being perhaps a bit modern for some ears, is accessible.

-Dan

Dan .......I will get back to you with specifics

But I enjoy Haydn String Quartets the most.
Shubert and Dvorak's Quartets.

and Bartok as done by the Emerson String Quartet

Early Beethoven cycle as well done by the Emerson

I will be more specific in my next post with recommends
from eMusic and Sparks where they have the best classical
selections.

and Welcome to the Forum.......

[vikulenka]

Originally Posted by Nightfly

Dan .......I will get back to you with specifics

But I enjoy Haydn String Quartets the most.
Shubert and Dvorak's Quartets.

and Bartok as done by the Emerson String Quartet

Early Beethoven cycle as well done by the Emerson

I will be more specific in my next post with recommends
from eMusic and Sparks where they have the best classical
selections.

and Welcome to the Forum.......

For all his plethora of creative output, Haydn has always left me strangely uneffected. With regards to Beethoven, you're right, I'd stress his earlier ones.

I love Brahms quartets....

And in particular - Shostakovich's.

[drg371950]

Ohhh, Haydn; don't get me started on him... I developed a Haydn addiction about three years ago, and it's been difficult to get rid of. Haydn's music is totally entertaining, I grant you that. But entertainment value is one thing, soul nourishment is quite another....

As for Beethoven, well, what can be said? His are the ultimate string quartets, for certain. I'm not sure who does them best. I haven't heard the ESQ recording; I 've got a selection performed by the Borodin String Quartet.

Bartok: I'm still looking for a good recording of those. I've heard that ESQ is first rate. Where can I find that? What about other versions?

Shostakovitch's string quartets are also great. But what about lesser-known names?