String Quartet in D minor (Sibelius)

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String Quartet in D minor
Voces intimae
by Jean Sibelius
The composer in 1913
Opus56
Composed1908 (1908)–1909
PublisherLienau (1909)[1]
Duration28 mins.[2]
Movements5
Premiere
Date25 April 1910 (1910-04-25)
LocationHelsinki, Finland
Performers

The String Quartet in D minor, Voces intimae (literal English translation: "Intimate voices" or "Inner voices"), Op. 56, is a five-movement chamber piece for two violins, viola, and cello written in 1909 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It is the only major work for string quartet of his mature period.[3]

History

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Voces intimae premiered on 25 April 1910 at the Helsinki Music Institute, with Viktor Nováček [de] (top) and Sulo Hurstinen [fi] (middle) on violin, Carl Lindelöf [fi] (bottom) on viola, and Bror Persfelt [sv] (not pictured) on cello.

As a student, Sibelius composed several works for string quartet. In 1885 he finished the String Quartet in E-flat major, followed in 1889, after quite a few individual movements for this combination, by the String Quartet in A minor. The first string quartet to receive an opus number was in 1890: the String Quartet in B-flat major (Op. 4).[3] Afterwards he wrote no string quartets until Voces intimae in 1909. Composed between his Third and Fourth Symphony,[4] it remained "the only major work for string quartet of Sibelius's mature period".[3]

Sibelius composed the quartet from December 1908, working on it in London in early 1909. The Latin title, translating to "Intimate Voices" or "Inner voices", marks a "conversational quality"[4] and "inwardness" of the music. The composer wrote about his work in a letter to his wife: "It turned out as something wonderful. The kind of thing that brings a smile to your lips at the hour of death. I will say no more."[3] Sibelius showed it to his publisher Robert Lienau on 15 April 1909.[3]

The first performance was on 25 April 1910 at the Helsinki Music Institute. A review in the Helsingin Sanomat noted: "The composition attracted a great deal of attention, and it is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant products in its field. It is not a composition for the public at large, it is so eccentric and out of the ordinary."[3] Sibelius later wrote about the composition: "The melodic material is good but the harmonic material could be 'lighter', and even 'more like a quartet.'"[3]

Structure and music

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Sibelius structured the quartet in five movements:[3]

  1. Andante – Allegro molto moderato
  2. Vivace
  3. Adagio di molto
  4. Allegretto (ma pesante)
  5. Allegro

The work opens with a dialogue of violin and cello.[4] The first movement contrasts "murmurous figuration with firm chords".[4] The second movement is a scherzo in A major, connected to the first by musical motifs.[4] The central slow movement has been described as a "soulful quest for serenity in F major". It contains "three detached, soft chords in E minor, remote from any of the previous harmonic implications",[4] to which Sibelius added the "voces intimae" in a friend's score.[4] A second scherzo is also connected by motivic similarity to the first movement. The finale, "with more than a hint of folk fiddling",[4] grows in intensity by markings from Allegro to "sempre più energico" (always more energetic), described as "fiercely accented music of forceful contrasts but irresistible momentum".[4]

Arrangements

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The Finnish violinist and composer Pekka Kuusisto has arranged the work for chamber orchestra, which was included in Kuusisto's 2009 Australian tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.[5]

Discography

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The Budapest String Quartet made the world premiere studio recording of the String Quartet in D minor on 8 August 1933, which appeared on Volume 3 of HVM's The Sibelius Society series (DB.2317/23, 1935).[6]

No. Quartet Violin I Violin II Viola Cello Runtime[a] Rec.[b] Recording venue Label Ref.
1 Budapest (1) Josef Roisman (1) Alexander Schneider (1) István Ipolyi Mischa Schneider (1) 26:56 1933 Beethovensaal, Alte Philharmonie Berlin [de] Warner Classics
[c]
2 Griller Sidney Griller Jack O’Brien Philip Burton Colin Hampton 36:03 1950 Decca Studios Decca
[d]
3 Budapest (2) Josef Roisman (2) Alexander Schneider (2) Boris Kroyt Mischa Schneider (2) 28:22 1955 Coolidge Auditorium Urania
[e]
4 Smetana Jiří Novák Lubomír Kostecký Milan Škampa Antonín Kohout 29:31 1956 [Unknown venue], Helsinki Ina
[f]
5 Pascal Jacques Dumont Maurice Crut Léon Pascal Robert Salles 32:23 c. 1957 ? First Hand
[g]
6 Borodin Rostislav Dubinsky [ru] Yaroslav Alexandrov [ru] Dmitri Shebalin [ru] Valentin Berlinsky ? c. 1959 ? Melodiya
[h]
7 Claremont Marc Gottlieb Vladimir Weisman Scott Nickrenz Irving Klein 27:37 c. 1966 ? Nonesuch
[i]
8 Lansdowne Jack Rothstein Antony Gilbert Kenneth Essex Charles Tunnell ? c. 1967 ? His Master's Voice
[j]
9 Finlandia [fi] Olavi Pälli [fi] Jussi Pesonen Esa Kamu Heikki Rautasalo [fi] ? 1970 Finnvox Studios His Master's Voice
[k]
10 Voces Intimae [fi] Ari Angervo Jorma Rahkonen [fi] Mauri Pietikäinen [fi] Veikko Höylä [fi] 31:04 1974 Vik Castle BIS
[l]
11 Copenhagen Tutter Givskov Mogens Lydolph Mogens Bruun Asger Lund-Christiansen 32:28 c. 1975 ? Turnabout
[m]
12 Fitzwilliam Christopher Rowland Janathan Sparey Alan George Ioan Davies 32:57 1978 Snape Maltings Concert Hall Decca
[n]
13 Sibelius Academy Seppo Tukiainen [fi] Erkki Kantola [fi] Veikko Kosonen Arto Noras 28:14 1980 Sibelius Academy Concert Hall Finlandia
[o]
14 Guarneri Arnold Steinhardt John Dalley Michael Tree David Soyer 28:47 1989 [Unknown venue], New York Philips
[p]
15 Gabrieli John Georgiadis Brendan O'Reilly Ian Jewel Keith Harvey 34:13 1989 Snape Maltings Concert Hall Chandos
[q]
16 Fresk [sv] Lars Fresk [sv] Hans-Erik Westberg Lars-Gunnar Bodin Per-Göran Skytt 30:10 1989 Studio 2, Swedish Radio Bluebell [sv]
[r]
17 Sophisticated Ladies Ulrika Jansson Annette Mannheimer Mona Bengtsson Åsa Forsberg 29:41 1989 Petrus Church, Stocksund [sv] BIS
[s]
18 Juilliard Robert Mann Joel Smirnoff Samuel Rhodes Joel Krosnick 30:45 1990 Coolidge Auditorium Sony Classical
[t]
19 Jean Sibelius Yoshiko Arai Jukka Pohjola Teemu Kupiainen Seppo Kimanen 30:11 1991 Roihuvuori Church [fi] Ondine
[u]
20 Wilanow Tadeusz Gadzina Paweł Łosakiewicz Ryszard Duź Marian Wasiółka 1991 Studio 2, Polish Radio Accord
[v]
21 New Helsinki Jan Söderblom Petri Aarnio Ilari Angervo Mark Ylönen 33:22 1997 Sigyn Hall [fi], Turku Finlandia
[w]
22 Melos Wilhelm Melcher Ida Bieler Hermann Voss Peter Buck 30:38 1998 Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin [de] Harmonia Mundi
[x]
23 Beau Anita Dusevic Stephan Bryant Sue Jane Bryant Peter Parthun ? c. 1998 ? Arktos Recordings
[y]
24 Utrecht Eeva Koskinen Katherine Routley Sven Arne Tepl Sebastian Koloski 29:28 2001 [Unknown venue], Renswoude Cobra
[z]
25 Oslo Geir Inge Lotsberg Per Kristian Skalstad [no] Are Sandbakken Øystein Sonstad 32:25 2002 Lommedalen Church [no] cpo
[aa]
26 Tempera [fi] Laura Vikman Silva Koskela Tiila Kangas Ulla Lampela 29:48 2004 Länna Church, Uppland [sv] BIS
[ab]
27 Emerson Eugene Drucker Philip Seltzer Lawrence Dutton David Finckel 27:56 2004 American Academy of Arts and Letters Deutsche Grammophon
[ac]
28 Daedalus Min-Young Kim Kyu-Young Kim Jessica Thompson Raman Ramakrishnan 28:56 c. 2006 ? Bridge
[ad]
29 Coull Roger Coull Philip Gallaway Gustav Clarkson Nicholas Roberts 31:49 2008 St Paul's Church, Birmingham SOMM
[ae]
30 Henschel Christoph Henschel Markus Henschel Monika Henschel Mathias Beyer-Karlshøj 30:51 2008 August Everding Hall, Grünwald Neos
[af]
31 Kocian Pavel Hůla Miloš Černý Zbyněk Paďourek Václav Bernášek 29:26 2009 Domovina Studio, Prague Praga Digitals
[ag]
32 Tetzlaff Christian Tetzlaff Elisabeth Kufferath Hanna Weinmeister Tanja Tetzlaff 29:55 2009 Sendesaal Bremen [de] Avi-Music
[ah]
33 Vertavo Berit Cardas Øyvor Volle Henninge Landaas Bjørg Lewis 30:52 2010 Østre Fredrikstad Church [de] LAWO Classics [no]
[ai]
34 Dante Krysia Osostowicz Giles Francis Judith Busbridge Bernard Gregor-Smith 31:01 2010 Potton Hall, Suffolk Hyperion
[aj]
35 Kamus Terhi Paldanius Jukka Untamala Jussi Tuhkanen Petja Kainulainen 30:07 2014 Schauman Hall, Pietersaari Alba [fi]
[ak]
36 Skyros Sarah Pizzichemi James Moat Justin Kurys William Braun 32:14 2014 Engel Hall, Union Adventist University Navona
[al]
37 Engegård [no] Arvid Engegård [no] Alex Robson Juliet Jopling [no] Jan Clemens Carlsen 28:37 2015 Bryn Church BIS
[am]
38 Flinders Helen Ayres Shane Chen Helen Ireland Zoe Knighton 29:39 2015 Wyselaskie Auditorium, Parkville ABC Classics
[an]
39 Ehnes James Ehnes Amy Schwartz Moretti Richard Yongjae O'Neill Robert deMaine 31:38 2015 Potton Hall, Suffolk Onyx Classics
[ao]
40 Leipzig Conrad Muck Tilman Büning Ivo Bauer Matthias Moosdorf 31:21 2016 Marienmünster Abbey MDG
[ap]
41 Aizuri Emma Frucht Miho Saegusa Ayane Kozasa Karen Ouzounian 29:39 2022 Sauder Concert Hall, Goshen College Azica
[aq]

Literature

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  • Beat Föllmi (ed.): Das Streichquartett in der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts (German), Verlag Hans Schneider, Tutzing 2004
  • Tomi Mäkelä: Jean Sibelius und seine Zeit (German), Laaber-Verlag, Regensburg 2013
  • Ulrich Wilker: "Ein fernes Murmeln aus einer fernen Welt". Zu Jean Sibelius’ Streichquartett "Voces intimae" d-Moll op. 56 (German), in: Stefan Börnchen/Claudia Liebrand (eds.): Lauschen und Überhören. Literarische und mediale Aspekte auditiver Offenheit, Wilhelm Fink Verlag, Paderborn 2020, p .193–211

Notes

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  1. ^ All runtimes are official, as printed on CD or LP liner notes.
  2. ^ Refers to the year in which the performers recorded the work; this may not be the same as the year in which the recording was first released to the general public.
  3. ^ Budapest–Warner Classics (0825646053179) 2015
  4. ^ Griller–Decca (478 8589) 2015
  5. ^ Budapest–Urania (WS 121.376) 2019
  6. ^ Smetana–Ina (IMV072) 2007
  7. ^ Pascal–First Hand (FHR85) 2024
  8. ^ Borodin–Melodiya (33Д-5668) 19??
  9. ^ Claremont–Nonesuch (H–71140) 1966
  10. ^ Lansdowne–HMV (HQS 1061) 1967
  11. ^ Finlandia–HMV (5 E063-34235) 1970
  12. ^ Voces Intimae–BIS (CD-10) 1988
  13. ^ Copenhagen–Turnabout (TV 34091S) 1975
  14. ^ Fitzwilliam–Decca (485 3639) 2023
  15. ^ Sibelius Academy–Finlandia (4509–95851–2) 1992
  16. ^ Guarneri–Philips (426 286–2) 1991
  17. ^ Gabrieli–Chandos (CHAN 8742) 1989
  18. ^ Fresk–Bluebell (ABCD 040) 1991
  19. ^ Sophisticated Ladies–BIS (CD-463) 1989
  20. ^ Juilliard–Sony Classical (SK 48193) 1992
  21. ^ Jean Sibelius–Ondine (ODE 773-2) 1991
  22. ^ Wilanow–Accord (202492) 1993
  23. ^ New Helsinki–Finlandia (0927-40872-2) 2002
  24. ^ Melos–Harmonia Mundi (HMA 901671) 2000
  25. ^ Beau–Arktos Recordings (ARK98028) 1998
  26. ^ Utrecht–Cobra (COBRA 0003) 2001
  27. ^ Oslo–cpo (999 977-2) 2003
  28. ^ Tempera–BIS (CD-1466) 2007
  29. ^ Emerson–DG (B0006340-02) 2006
  30. ^ Daedalus–Bridge (BRIDGE 9202) 2006
  31. ^ Coull–SOMM (SOMMCD 096) 2010
  32. ^ Henschel–Neos (NEOS11006) 2012
  33. ^ Kocian–Praga Digitals (DSD 250 257) 2009
  34. ^ Tetzlaff–Avi-Music (8553202) 2010
  35. ^ Vertavo–LAWO Classics (LWC1201) 2020
  36. ^ Dante–Hyperion (CDA 67845) 2011
  37. ^ Kamus–Alba (ABCD 383) 2015
  38. ^ Skyros–Navona (NV6005) 2015
  39. ^ Engegård–BIS (SACD–2101) 2015
  40. ^ Flinders–ABC Classics (ABC 481 1982) 2015
  41. ^ Ehnes–Onyx Classics (ONYX 4163) 2016
  42. ^ Leipzig–MDG (MDG 307 1957–2) 2016
  43. ^ Aizuri–Azica (ACD–71359) 2023

References

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  1. ^ Dahlström 2003, p. 259.
  2. ^ Dahlström 2003, pp. 257–258.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Chamber music for trios, quartets and quintets". Jean Sibelius. Finnish Club of Helsinki. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Henken, John. "String Quartet, "Voces intimae" / Jean Sibelius". Los Angeles Philharmonic. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  5. ^ Anna King Murdoch, "An aural homecoming", The Age, 14 March 2009, A2, p. 16
  6. ^ Dahlström 2003, p. 258.
  • Dahlström, Fabian [in Swedish] (2003). Jean Sibelius: Thematisch-bibliographisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke [Jean Sibelius: A Thematic Bibliographic Index of His Works] (in German). Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel. ISBN 3-7651-0333-0.
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