Performers are making special efforts these days to enhance music content. It is rarely adequate to simply perform a masterpiece. Often a well known composition is augmented by other works in order to enhance the listener’s experience.
Now we have this new recording of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden, where individual movements are augmented with other old and new works.
Schubert:
String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810 ‘Death and the Maiden’
1 Toden Tanz, From ‘Tabulaturbuch Auff Dem
Instrumente’ Augustus Nörmiger 02:32
2 Byzantine Chant On Psalm 140 For Solo Violin
And Strings Anonymous 02:09
3 Quartet In D Minor, D.810, ‘Death And The Maiden’
I. Allegro Franz Schubert 16:22
4 Pavan (Lachrimae Antiquae Novae) From Seaven
Teares For String Quintet John Dowland 02:57
5 Quartet In D Minor, D.810, ‘Death And The Maiden’
II. Andante Con Moto Franz Schubert 13:48
6 Madrigal: ‘Moro, Lasso, Al Mio Duolo’ For
String Quintet Carlo Gesualdo 03:19
7 Quartet In D Minor, D.810, ‘Death And The Maiden’
III. Scherzo. Allegro Molto Franz Schubert 03:37
8 Ligatura-Message To Frances-Maria (The
Answered Unanswered Question), Opus 31B
György Kurtág 05:01
9 Ruhelos’ (‘Restless’) From Kafka Fragments For
Violin, Op. 24 György Kurtág 00:26
10 Quartet In D Minor, D.810, ‘Death And The Maiden’
IV. Presto Franz Schubert 08:49
All performed by Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Patricia Kopatchinskaja tells us that:
“With the wonderful Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra we are presently exploring Schubert’s quatuor ‘Death and the maiden’. Of course we have to include Schubert’s earlier song with the same title on the poem of Matthias Claudius. This song belongs to the medieval tradition of the dance of death. Therefore we also play „Toden Tanz“ (with poor me dancing), an ancient death dance written up by the German organ player August Nörmiger (1560-1613). Schubert’s song and the slow movement of his quatuor use the solemn rhythm of a Pavan, so we also play one of Dowland’s Pavans from „Seven Teares“. Add to this „Moro lasso“ a madrigal about death by the famous Renaissance composer (and murderer!) Gesualdo. In between we also refresh our ears with other unsettling works by modern composers like György Kurtag and Heinz Holliger.”
Here are some highlights of this recording:
