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The String Quartet

Tom Service's quirky take on the world of classical music. Today he explores the most celebrated of chamber ensembles, the string quartet.

Why is a chamber ensemble of two violins, viola and cello the most popular in all of music? The string quartet has inspired - and instilled fear into - composers like no other ensemble, and has been used in pop songs from The Beatles to Bjork. Tom Service explores the string quartet, from Haydn's epic 68 works for the medium, to Beethoven's heroic and tortured late masterpieces, to Shostakovich's 15 soul-bearing 20th-century works. Tom's guests are composer Dobrinka Tabakova, who takes inspiration from the wealth of quartets written before her, and one of the best quartets in the business - the Brodsky Quartet who, besides the great classical cannon, have played with pop artists including Elvis Costello, Sting and Paul McCartney in their nearly 50-year existence.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Fri 14 Jan 2022 16:30
±«Óătv Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    String Quartet in D minor D.810 (Death and the maiden)

    Performer: Brodsky String Quartet.
    • Teldec.
    • 9031 76260-2.

  • Alexander Borodin

    Quartet no. 2 in D major for strings

    Performer: Brodsky String Quartet.
    • WARNER.
    • 2564674419.

  • Elvis Costello and The Bodsky Quartet

    Jacksons, Monk and Rowe

    • WARNER BROS.
    • 9362-45180-2.

  • µţÂáö°ů°ě

    Hyperballad

    Performer: µţÂáö°ů°ě.
    • ONE LITTLE INDIAN.
    • TPLP-51CD.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in F minor Op.95 for strings

    Performer: Brodsky String Quartet.
    • Chandos.
    • CHAN20114.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Quartet in E flat major Op.33`2 (Joke) for strings

    Performer: London Haydn Quartet.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA67955.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in F major Op.59`1 (Rasumovsky) for strings

    Performer: Takács Quartet.
    • decca.
    • 470-8472.

  • BĂ©la BartĂłk

    Quartet no. 4 Sz.91 for strings

    Performer: Emerson String Quartet.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • DG-4778168.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Quartet no. 8 in C minor Op.110 for strings

    Performer: Brodsky String Quartet.
    • chandos.
    • CHAN10917.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 1 for strings

    Performer: Hanson String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kancharna.
    • DKP9080.

  • Dobrinka Tabakova

    The Smile of the flamboyant wings for string quartet

    Performer: Goldmund Quartet.

  • The Divine Comedy

    The Lost Art of Conversation

    Performer: The Divine Comedy Club.
    • Devine Comedy Records.
    • DCRL101LP.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Serenade in G major K.525 (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik)

    Performer: Hagen String Quartet.
    • DG.
    • 4776253.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Quartet in C major Op.20`2 for strings

    Performer: Jubilee Quartet.
    • Rubicon DRC1039.
    • DRC1039.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Quartet in G major K.387 for strings

    Performer: Zaide Quartet.
    • NoMadMusic.
    • NMM060D.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Quartet in C major K.465 (Dissonance) for strings

    Performer: Belcea Quartet.
    • emi.
    • 0946 3 44455 2 8.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Quartet in D minor K.173 for strings

    Performer: Hagen String Quartet.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • DG-4778168.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in C sharp minor Op.131 for strings

    Performer: Brodsky String Quartet.
    • chandos.
    • CHAN20114(3).

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Quartet in E flat major Op.127 for strings

    Performer: Brodsky String Quartet.
    • chandos.
    • CHAN20114(3).

  • Bedrich Smetana

    Quartet no. 1 in E minor (From my life) for strings

    Performer: Pavel Haas Quartet.
    • SUPRAPHON.
    • SU 4172-2.

  • Leos Janáček

    Quartet no. 2 (Intimate letters) for strings

    Performer: Pavel Haas Quartet.
    • Supraphon.
    • SU3877-2.

  • John Adams

    John's book of alleged dances for string quartet and electronics

    Performer: Kronos Quartet.
    • NONESUCH.
    • 755879485-2.

  • Franz Schubert

    Quartet in G major D.887 for strings

    Performer: Belcea Quartet.
    • EMI.
    • 967025--2.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in A minor Op.132

    Performer: Brodsky String Quartet.
    • Chandos.
    • CHAN20114(3).

Broadcasts

  • Sun 2 Feb 2020 17:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 3
  • Fri 7 Feb 2020 16:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 3
  • Sun 9 Jan 2022 17:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 3
  • Fri 14 Jan 2022 16:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 3

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