John Ramsay: String Quartets Nos. 1-4

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Release Date: 9th Apr 2012
Catalogue No: MSV28528
Label: Metier
Length: 87 minutes

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Ramsay, J: String Quartet No. 1 in D minor

Work length21:40

$4.00

$5.20

Fitzwilliam Quartet

I. Allegro

Track length5:00

$1.00

$1.30

II. Molto moderato

Track length5:53

$1.00

$1.30

III. Scherzo

Track length5:41

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Lento - Rondo vivace

Track length5:06

$1.00

$1.30

Ramsay, J: String Quartet No. 2 in E minor 'Shackleton'

Work length16:52

$4.00

$5.20

Fitzwilliam Quartet

I. Moderato

Track length3:22

$1.00

$1.30

II. Adagio

Track length4:35

$1.00

$1.30

III. Adagio molto - Funeral March

Track length2:30

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Allegro, flamenco - Adagio molto

Track length6:25

$1.00

$1.30

Ramsay, J: String Quartet No. 3 in C major

Work length26:49

$6.00

$7.80

Fitzwilliam Quartet

I. Adagio - Allegro con spirito

Track length7:25

$2.00

$2.60

II. Adagio

Track length6:29

$1.00

$1.30

III. Scherzi

Track length6:01

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Andante

Track length3:28

$1.00

$1.30

V. Allegro moderato

Track length3:26

$1.00

$1.30

Ramsay, J: String Quartet No 4 'Charles Darwin'

Work length21:41

Album only

Fitzwilliam Quartet

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John Ramsay is a Professor of Geology by profession but also a highly talented composer of chamber and orchestral works. These four quartets are excellent examples of post-modernist music, employing no artificial boundaries. They are extremely accessible and highly deserving of attention – beautifully played. A real discovery is instore for lovers of the string quartet idiom.

The Fitzwilliam’s friendship with Prof. Ramsay dates back to his daughter Alison’s violin lessons with Jonathan Sparey, when the group was Quartet-in-Residence at the University of York. More recently, the Fitzwilliam were deeply honoured to be chosen to perform the newly commissioned Quartet No.4 at the Darwin Festival in Cambridge during the bi-centenary celebrations, and subsequently to include this on the current CD of the complete (to date) Ramsay Quartets, in celebration of the composer’s 80th birthday.

They are one of the few string quartets in the world using Classical instruments for the appropriate repertoire, and perhaps unique in that they perform on both historical and modern set-ups (sometimes within the same concert).

In November 2010 their second violinist, Jonathan Sparey, decided to retire after 37 years in the quartet, and the present CD includes the FSQ’s first recordings with his young successor Colin Scobie. Indeed, this collection happily spans the actual handover, with Jonathan playing in Quartets 1 and 4, Colin in Nos.2 and 3.

John Ramsay: String Quartets Nos. 1-4

2 CDs

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