Impassioned argument: Elizabeth Maconchy's string quartets
Tom Service surveys the 13 extraordinary string quartets of Elizabeth Maconchy - the greatest 20th-century British composer you've probably never heard of.
"For me, the best music is an impassioned argument". So said one of Britain's greatest 20th-century composers, Elizabeth Maconchy.
Who?? Despite her many awards and medals - including a damehood in 1987 - and a lifetime spent promoting new music, Elizabeth's work slipped out of fashion and out of view in the latter part of her remarkable career. With concertos and symphonies, vocal music, chamber works, five operas, an operetta and three ballets to her name, Elizabeth's voice is that of economy, elegance and rich expression. And it is in her century-spanning 13 string quartets that her development - and musical outlook - as an artist are most closely expressed.
With a cultural resurgence in all things mid-century, Tom Service chats to Janell Yeo of the Bloomsbury Quartet and considers whether the time is now ripe for a reclamation of Elizabeth's place at our musical top table.
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Music Played
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 1, I. Allegro Feroce
Performer: Hanson String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKP90802.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 13, I. Allegro Moderato
Performer: Mistry String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKP90802.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 1, I Allegro Feroce
Performer: Hanson String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKP90802.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 11
Performer: Mistry String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKP90802.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
The Land
Conductor: Odaline de la Martinez. Performer: ±«Óătv Scottish Symphony Orchestra.- Lorelt.
- LNT133.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Proud Thames
Conductor: Vernon Handley. Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra.- Lyrita.
- SRCD288.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 2, I. Molto Lento
Performer: Hanson String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKP90802.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 2, IV. Allegro
Performer: Hanson String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKP90802.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 9, IV. Allegro
Performer: Allegri String Quartet.- Decca.
- 485993.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 4, I. Allegro - Lento Appassionato - Allegro
Performer: Hanson String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKP90802.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 4, IV. Presto
Performer: Hanson String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKP90802.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 9, II. Scherzo - Trio: Presto
Performer: Allegri String Quartet.- Decca.
- 485993.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 8, I. Lento- Allegro Moderato, Vigoroso
Performer: Bingham String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKPCD9080/2.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 8, III. Lento (Tempo Libero Senza Misura)
Performer: Bingham String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKPCD9080/2.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 1, IV. Presto
Performer: Hanson String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKPCD9080/2.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 11
Performer: Mistry String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKPCD9080/2.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 13 'Quartetto Corto', II. Lento
Performer: Mistry String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKPCD9080/2.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 13 'Quartetto Corto', III. Allegro Risoluto
Performer: Mistry String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKPCD9080/2.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 13 'Quartetto Corto', III. Allegro Risoluto
Performer: Mistry String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKPCD9080/2.
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Elizabeth Maconchy
Quartet no. 13 'Quartetto Corto', II. Lento
Performer: Mistry String Quartet.- Unicorn-Kanchana.
- DKPCD9080/2.
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Frédéric Chopin
Mazurka in F minor, Op 63 No 2
Performer: Martha Argerich.- Argerich Plays Chopin.
- Deutsche Grammaphon.
- 6.
Broadcasts
- Sun 3 Mar 2024 17:00±«Óătv Radio 3
- Fri 8 Mar 2024 16:30±«Óătv Radio 3
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