Search - Hugo Kauder, Euclid Quartet :: Hugo Kauder: String Quartets Nos 1-4

American Record Guide

R. Richter | HKS | 04/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"".... The writing is rich, with generous melodic material given to the inner voices, particularly to the viola; and he [Kauder] is extremely creative and inventive while always using a tonal musical vocabulary. .... Hearing Kauder's superb music adds a completely new dimension to my perception of the kind of music that was being written in Vienna in the 1920s. ... A few years ago I heard a performance of a choral piece by Kauder that made a profound impression on me, and I wondered then why I had never heard of him. Maybe, now that tonality is appreciated once again, it is time for a recording 'Renaissance' of Kauder's music. There are more than 300 works, both vocal and instrumental, to choose from; and these four quartets, played beautifully by this very fine quartet [Euclid Quartet], are an excellent start."



Elaine Fine for American Record Guide (Jan/Feb 2008)"

MusicWeb International - Recording of the Month (Sept. '07)

R. Richter | 03/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Recording of the Month" (September 2007).



" ..... This disc was one of the more pleasant and unexpected surprises to come across the desk in a while. One can only hope that the Euclid and other performers will explore more of this composer's work. ..."



"... From the first measures of the first quartet the listener is captivated by the dense and somewhat jagged writing, and then we are quite surprised by a slow movement that is richly tonal and lush and quite beautiful. .... The third movement is fugal and the interplay of melodic ideas and subtle rhythmic gestures is fascinating. The second quartet is much more romantic, staying pretty firmly in the realm of tonality with the occasional strong dissonance thrown in for variety. Like the first quartet, it ends with a big fugue. Quartet No. 3 is fairly brief and is based on a Czech folksong. One is reminded of the music of Vaughan Williams here as Kauder makes ample use of modal harmonies and long, sweeping and imitative lines. The fourth quartet is cast in five short movements that the composer described as 'character pieces'. Each movement is taut and heavily infused with modal melodies again harking to Vaughan Williams, Delius and other British 'pastoral' composers.

The Euclid Quartet has a refined warm, rich tone, precise ensemble and spot-on intonation. They play with great expression, and the subtle use of gestures such as the occasional portamento - always included at the perfect moment and with impeccable good taste - makes for more than seventy minutes of thoroughly enjoyable listening. ..."



Kevin Sutton for MusicWeb International (Sept. 2007)"