Trojahn, Manfred – IV. String Quartet by Barenreiter

A modern sequel to the music of the Romantic era.

The first movement hints at the chromatic of “Tristan”; cantilena lines convey a mournful scene. It is succeeded by a brilliant scherzo with the cryptic title “Erste fremde Szene” (First Foreign/Unknown Scene – one is invited to solve this riddle), while the third movement, with its singing quality, is related to the first.
The final movement, a “Zweite fremde Szene” (“Second Foreign/Unknown Scene”), alludes to the ‘last dance’ tradition, with its ironic undertones and the copious use of sixths, counterpointed with tarantella rhythms.

A rewarding, striking work, equally valuable for concerts combining older compositions with new works as for contemporary music programmes.