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Coffee Concert 23rd February 2020 – Castalian Quartet – Strings Attached Review by Andrew Polmear

I’ve been reviewing concerts by the Castalian Quartet since 2012, and at least annually since 2017. Each time I write how much I like their playing and each time I say how Continue reading Coffee Concert 23rd February 2020 – Castalian Quartet – Strings Attached Review by Andrew Polmear

Newsletter #44 – February 2020

Welcome to our forty fourth newsletter – designed to keep you informed about our activities, as well as other chamber music events.

2019/20 COFFEE CONCERT SEASON CONTINUES

The fourth concert of the series was given on 26 January by the Heath Quartet. A review can be found on https://www.stringsattachedmusic.org.uk under ‘Reviews’. It was a massive programme. Continue reading Newsletter #44 – February 2020

23rd February 2020 – Castalian Quartet – Programme notes by Chris Darwin

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) String Quartet in F Op 41 No 2 (1842)

Allegro vivace
Andante quasi variazioni
Scherzo. Presto – Trio. L’istesso tempo
Allegro molto vivace

Coming after his ‘Liederjahre’ of 1840 and the subsequent ‘Symphonic Year’ of 1841, 1842 was Schumann’s ‘Chamber Music Year’: three string quartets, a piano quartet and the particularly successful piano quintet. Such creativity may have been due to Schumann at last winning, in July 1840, the protracted legal case in which his ex-teacher Friedrich Wieck, attempted to forbid him from marrying Wieck’s daughter Clara. They were married on 12 September 1840, the day before Clara’s 21st birthday.. Continue reading 23rd February 2020 – Castalian Quartet – Programme notes by Chris Darwin