Shostakovich: Fragments, Vol. 1 Alexander String Quartet & Roger Woodward

• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975): String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49:
• 1 String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49: I. Moderato 04:25
• 2 String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49: II. Moderato 04:12
• 3 String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49: III. Allegro molto 02:14
• 4 String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49: IV. Allegro 03:11
• String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68:
• 5 String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68: I. Overture. Moderato con moto 08:19
• 6 String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68: II. Recitative & Romance. Adagio 10:45
• 7 String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68: III. Waltz. Allegro 06:23
• 8 String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68: IV. Theme with Variations. Adagio 10:26
• String Quartet No. 4 in D Major, Op. 83:
• 9 String Quartet No. 4 in D Major, Op. 83: I. Allegretto 03:56
• 10 String Quartet No. 4 in D Major, Op. 83: II. Andantino 05:40
• 11 String Quartet No. 4 in D Major, Op. 83: III. Allegretto 04:01
• 12 String Quartet No. 4 in D Major, Op. 83: IV. Allegretto 10:19
• String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73:
• 13 String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73: I. Allegretto 07:24
• 14 String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73: II. Moderato con moto 04:50
• 15 String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73: III. Allegro non troppo 04:06
• 16 String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73: IV. Adagio 04:46
• 17 String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73: V. Moderato 10:36
• Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57:
• 18 Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57: I. Prelude. Lento 04:41
• 19 Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57: II. Fugue. Adagio 10:37
• 20 Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57: III. Scherzo. Allegretto 03:26
• 21 Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57: IV. Intermezzo. Lento 06:17
• 22 Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57: V. Finale. Allegretto 07:30
• 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87: No. 20 in C Minor:
• 23 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87: No. 20 in C Minor (Arr. Z. Grafilo for String Quartet) 09:02
• String Quartet No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 92:
• 24 String Quartet No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 92: I. Allegro non troppo 11:32
• 25 String Quartet No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 92: II. Andante 08:53
• 26 String Quartet No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 92: III. Moderato 10:53
• String Quartet No. 6 in G Major, Op. 101:
• 27 String Quartet No. 6 in G Major, Op. 101: I. Allegretto 06:04
• 28 String Quartet No. 6 in G Major, Op. 101: II. Moderato con moto 05:12
• 29 String Quartet No. 6 in G Major, Op. 101: III. Lento 04:12
• 30 String Quartet No. 6 in G Major, Op. 101: IV. Lento - Allegretto 07:33
• String Quartet No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 108:
• 31 String Quartet No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 108: I. Allegretto 03:29
• 32 String Quartet No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 108: II. Lento 03:09
• 33 String Quartet No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 108: III. Allegro - Allegretto 06:12
• 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87: No. 15 in D-Flat Major:
• 34 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87: No. 15 in D-Flat Major (Arr. Z. Grafilo for String Quartet) 05:24
• Total Runtime 03:39:39

Info for Shostakovich: Fragments, Vol. 1

This is the first half of the Alexander String Quartet's complete Shostakovich cycle. Superbly recorded at the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2005-06, this exquisite collection contains the first seven quartets, the Piano Quintet with legendary Australian pianist Roger Woodward, and two exceptional transcriptions for string quartet by ASQ's first violinist of a pair of the piano Preludes and Fugues from Op. 87 (1950-51). Spanning roughly the period from 1937-1960, this beautiful collection is accompanied by superb liner notes from musicologist Eric Bromberger.

"The sharpness of the contrasts come across like physical blows with the Alexander Quartet, and there is a steely edge to their sound in some sections which can be quite unsettling. There is great beauty, but no comfort in the exquisite dying moments of the conclusion." (Musicweb-International)

"The Alexander is definitely on to something in its 2006 three-disc set of the first seven Shostakovich quartets plus his Piano Quintet and a pair of his Preludes and Fugues transcribed for string quartet... While one might reasonably prefer the energy of Borodin or the anxiety of the Beethoven Quartet's performances, the power, terror, and grace of the Alexander Quartet's performance makes it in nearly every way the equal of its Soviet forbears. Producer Judith Sherman has captured the sound of the Alexander Quartet with incredible fidelity and her recordings are every bit the equal of the best of the big labels." (AMG)

Alexander String Quartet
Roger Woodward, piano

The Alexander String Quartet
has performed in the major music capitals of five continents, securing its standing among the world’s premier ensembles over three decades. Widely admired for its interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart, and Shostakovich, the Quartet has also established itself as an important advocate of new music through over 25 commissions and numerous premiere performances.

The many distinguished artists to collaborate with the Alexander String Quartet include pianists Menahem Pressler, Gary Graffman, Roger Woodward, Jeremy Menuhin, and Joyce Yang; clarinetists Eli Eban, Charles Neidich, Joan Enric Lluna, and Richard Stolzman; cellists Lynn Harrell, Sadao Harada, and David Requiro; violist Toby Appel; and soprano Elly Ameling. Among the quartet’s more unusual collaborations has been numerous performances of Eddie Sauter’s seminal Third Stream work, Focus, in collaboration with Branford Marsalis, David Sánchez, and Andrew Speight.

Over the past decade the Alexander String Quartet has added considerably to its distinguished and wide-ranging discography. Currently recording exclusively for the FoghornClassics label, the Alexander’s most recent release (June 2009) is a complete Beethoven cycle. Music Web International has described the performances on this new Beethoven set as “uncompromising in their power, intensity and spiritual depth,” while Strings Magazine described the set as “a landmark journey through the greatest of all quartet cycles.”

Highlights of the 2010–2011 season include a two multiple concert series for San Francisco Performances, one presenting the complete quartets of Bartók and Kodály and the other music of Dvořák; the conclusion of a Beethoven cycle for Mondavi Center; and a continuing annual series at Baruch College in New York City. The quartet also performs an all-Beethoven program at the Lied Center of Kansas, two tours of Spain (including the inaugural performances of a new festival in Godella), and a second tour of Argentina. They also continue their annual residencies at Allegheny College, Lewis & Clark College, and St. Lawrence University.

The Alexander String Quartet was formed in New York City in 1981 and the following year became the first string quartet to win the Concert Artists Guild Competition. In 1985, the quartet captured international attention as the first American quartet to win the London International String Quartet Competition, receiving both the jury’s highest award and the Audience Prize.

The Quartet is a major artistic presence in its home base of San Francisco, serving there as directors of the Morrison Chamber Music Center at the School of Music and Dance in the College of Creative Arts at San Francisco State University and Ensemble in Residence of San Francisco Performances.

The Alexander String Quartet performs on the Ellen M. Egger Quartet of instruments, built in 1987 by the American maker Francis Kuttner.

Booklet for Shostakovich: Fragments, Vol. 1