Hector Villa-Lobos produced a "profusion of music in abundance" - to coin a possible non-sequitur. Although not generally thought of as a composer of symphonies or string quartets, the fact remains that there are 12 symphonies and 17 string quartets. And they are all of them major works of primary importance. Now that the 20th century is behind us and a more thoughtful evaluation of the entire period can be undertaken, quite a number of composers will doubtless float to the top. Villa-Lobos most certainly is one of these. The Villa-Lobos set are as varied as is the rest of his enormous output. But the consistency of the set is one of its most remarkable characteristics. Villa-Lobos, being a string player, exploits every device known to the string player's craft. To cite but one example, having been both a 'Cellist and a guitar player, there are whole sections in these quartets where the ensemble is made to sound like an enormous guitar, complete with left and right pizzicati, fingered and unfingered, too. These are virtuoso pieces, intellectually sharp, dramatic, sentimental, humorous and vigorous in turn. In short, a major addition to the quartet literature.
tracks
01. String Quartet No.06 I Poco animato (7:00)
02. String Quartet No.06 II Allegretto (4:37)
03. String Quartet No.06 III Andante quasi adagio (6:42)
04. String Quartet No.06 IV Allegro vivace (6:31)
05. String Quartet No.01 I Cantilena (2:36)
06. String Quartet No.01 II Brincadeira (A Joke) (1:24)
07. String Quartet No.01 III Canto Lirico (4:56)
08. String Quartet No.01 IV Canconeta (2:01)
09. String Quartet No.01 V Melancolia (5:53)
10. String Quartet No.01 VI Saltando como um saci (Jumping Like a Jumping Bean) (3:02)
11. String Quartet No.17 I Allegro non troppo (5:24)
12. String Quartet No.17 II Lento (6:24)
13. String Quartet No.17 III Scherzo Allegro vivace (2:54)
14. String Quartet No.17 IV Allegro vivace (con fuoco) (5:14)
String Quartet No.06 I Poco animato
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