Atterberg & Rangstrom: String Quartets Stenhammar Quartet

• 1 I. Allegro con fuoco 06:03
• 2 II. Andante 07:23
• 3 III. Allegro furioso 04:58
• 4 I. Allegro 08:19
• 5 II. Scherzo 07:18
• 6 III. Romance: Adagio 07:02
• 7 IV. Allegro deciso 07:26
• 8 String Quartet, Un notturno nella Maniera di E. Th. A. Hoffmann 13:22
• Total Runtime 01:01:51

Info for Atterberg & Rangstrom: String Quartets

One of Scandinavia’s outstanding quartet ensembles – the Stenhammar Quartet – has recorded the string quartets of the Swedish composers Kurt Atterberg and Ture Rangström for cpo. Atterberg saved the first theme of his first quartet for a later go at quartet composition and incorporated it into his op. 39, thus carrying his String Quartet op. 2 through to completion. This quartet is regarded as a personal, refined work, as serious playing with national melodies. As the composer himself put it, his second quartet »originated from a peculiar impulse to play a prank. This is reflected in my disrespectful treatment of the keys. The second movement was inspired by the dream of a beautiful dancer – but before I saw her in the nude. The first motif [of the finale] is related to various parts of my requiem and to the finale of my second symphony. It was tremendous fun to present a waltz theme as a finale.« Ture Rangström was above all a literary composer. Accordingly, literary references are found in his only string quartet, entitled »A Nachtstück (Notturno) in the Manner of E. T. A. Hoffmann.« The inspiration for the string quartet came from Carl Nielsen, who recommended a useful exercise in quartet composition to the young composer and followed the work’s progress from afar: »I have the sense that the vibrancy and temperament with which your work is imbued are genuinely delightful.« The result is a truly inspired, resolute work from Rangström’s youth.

Stenhammar Quartet:
Peter Olofsson, 1st violin
Per Öman, 2nd violin
Tony Bauer, viola
Mats Olofsson, cello

Stenhammar Quartet
Since its establishment in 2002, the Stenhammar Quartet has become one of Scandinavia’s foremost string quartets. Swedish works play a central part in the ensemble’s programmes, but much attention is also paid to the Viennese Classical repertoire and to contem- porary music. The quartet regularly commissions works from Nordic composers such as Sven-David Sandström, Anders Hillborg and Bent Sörensen, and has also been the dedicatee and given the first performances of works by composers from the USA and Great Britain. The Stenhammar Quartet has recorded some forty works for Swedish Radio and has been praised by The Strad and The Guardian for its lyrical and exceptional recordings of Wilhelm Stenhammar’s string quartets (Bis) Their recording of Lars-Erik Larsson’s complete string quartets (Daphne) received a nomination for the Swedish Grammy awards as well as critical acclaim both in Swedish and international music magazines.

In 2009 the quartet made its London debut and was that same year featured on the French music channel Mezzo.

The Stenhammar Quartet is a regular guest at many Scandinavian festivals and has recently been invited to festivals in Poland, Algeria and India.

Booklet for Atterberg & Rangstrom: String Quartets