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  Bartok (1881-1945) wrote the second of his six monumental quartets during the first World War, a period during which he devoted himself to systematic research of his native Hungarian folk music. In String Quartet No. 2 Bartok freely alters the traditional movement order so that a calm first movement is followed by a rapid allegro and a melancholy slow movement concludes the work. His colleague Kodaly heard the resulting succession as "life episodes: peaceful life; joy; suffering."

Bartok's close study of Beethoven's late quartets is evident in the rigorous thematic development of the Moderato. Colorful harmonies suggest the impressionist influence of Debussy and Ravel. Bartok's intense interest in Hungarian folk music emerges in the Allegro, which is organized as a rondo with frenzied dance motifs interspersed between statements of the principal subject. The quartet's opening theme returns in the Lento, but it is soon reduced to short, sighing gestures. A modal shift from major to minor and rising thirds in the violins conjure a mood of anguish and despair.

The work was commissioned by the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music in honor of its 50th Anniversary Season and 5th Festival. The composer writes: "In contrast to my Quartet No. 1 played at the 1st Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival, No. 2 is more lyrical. The first movement begins without preamble by stating a broad melodic destined to become the foundation for the work, undergoing many transformations through inversions, retrogrades, and contrapuntal variants. The brisk tempo of the opening alternatives with more reflective slower sections, one of which brings the movement to a quietly expectant close.

"The second movement initially combines a short scurrying passage of two bars based on an inversion of the main melody, with an extended Adagio cantabile. The same phrase returns three more times, acting as a bridge to more lyrical sections. On its last return, the scurrying motif is extended and followed by a summing of the slower music.

"The exposition of the final movement takes the form of a fugue, introduced by the viola, and followed by the violin, cello, and piano. As the music progresses, the development never strays far from the material of the fugue, except for a reflective return to the first movement."

Told by Dvorak that he showed exceptional promise, Erwin Schulhoff (l894-l942) sought the finest musical education possible, including private tutorage with Debussy. Schulhoff developed into a versatile composer with full command of the myriad "-isms_ of his day--German late romanticism, impressionism, Bartokian folklorism--and over the course of his short career blended them in his six symphonies and various chamber works.

In l9l9 Schulhoff left his native Czechoslovakia for Germany, where he befriended the avant-garde and became a popular figure in jazz circles. He became a Marxist, which, together with his Jewish heritage, led to his imprisonment in a concentration camp. He died of typhus at Wurzburg and his works virtually disappeared from the concert scene.

Schulhoff composed the Sextet's first movement in Dresden in 1920 and completed the remaining movements four years later. His close study of Schoenberg is evident in the deeply expressive chromaticism heard throughout the work especially the dissonant chord and melodic unit based on the notes C-D flat-G that provide much of the thematic material. he eerily reflective second and fourth movements have lyrical moments suggesting the influence of Debussy. The colorful Burlesca, propelled by a rapid 5/8 meter is, a virtuoso showpiece.

FESTIVAL MUSICIANS

The Chicago String Quartet promises to become a major force on the international music scene. Founded in l995, the group is the resident string quartet of the Chicago Chamber Musicians and is also in residence at the DePaul University School of music, where the members are full-time faculty. The Quartet's members combine an impressive range of experience:

Joseph Genualdi, Violin, has been at the forefront of the American chamber music scene for nearly 20years. As first violinist of the Muir Quartet he was winner of the Naumburg Award, Evian Concours Medal d'Or, and the Prix du Disque. He has been a participant at the Marlboro Music Festival since l976. Mr. Genualdi appeared at the 1st Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival as a member of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet.

Violinist Stefan Hersh, former assistant Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony, Concertmaster of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and Principal Second Violin with the Minnesota Orchestra, has recorded the complete Beethoven and Brahms sonata cycles with his father, Pianist Paul Hersh.

Violist Rami Solomonow, former Principal Violist of the Lyric Opera Orchestra has recorded with the Vermeer Quartet and performed live broadcasts on WQLXR and WFMT. He has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in numerous festivals,

Cellist Christopher Costanza came to national prominence as a winner of the]l986 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. He has performed in numerous festivals including BRAVO! Colorado, Marlboro and Vancouver. In l993 he was awarded a solo Recitalist Grant by the NEA

The Los Angeles Piano Quartet made its debut at the Music Center in Los Angeles in l977 and soon earned recognition as America's premier piano quartet. This accomplished ensemble has been repeatedly engaged by Major chamber music presenters and hailed by the press and public throughout the United States. The Quartet has appeared on Minnesota Public Radio's "St. Paul Sunday Morning," New York's "Live from WNCN," and at numerous festivals, including the 1st Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival.

Violinist Ayako Yoshida, a winner of the Concert Artist's Guild Auditions, enjoys an active career as a soloist, including recent appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Yo Yo Ma. She has performed at Aspen, Caramoor, Round Top, La Jolla, Salzburg, and Marlboro music festivals.

Violist Katherine Murdock is a former member of the Mendelssohn String Quartet. She has appeared at the Edinburgh, Salzburg, Gulbenkian, Ravinia, Aspen, Mostly Mozart, Tanglewood, and Santa Fe festivals. Ms Murdock has played on the Great Performers Series at Lincoln Center as a guest of the Beaux Arts Trio.

James Bonn, Pianist, has had a varied and distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, lecture recitalist, and master class clinician. He is noted for his seven recordings of early music instruments, including one of the 1720 Cristofori piano, which won a High Fidelity Critic's Choice Award.

Peter Rejto, Cellist, is a founding member.

Nicole Divall, Violist, is a graduate of the Canberra School of Music in her native Australia, and of the University of Michigan. A prizewinner in the l997Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, she has performed at the Aspen, Taos, Park City, BRAVO! Colorado, Steamboat Springs, Grand Canyon, Ann Arbor Spring, and Skaneateles Festivals. She is currently principal violist of the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony and Cleveland's baroque group Apollo's Fire.

Peter Rejto, Cellist and Artistic Director, has been acclaimed throughout the U.S. and abroad as one of this country's leading artists. Since winning the 1972 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, he has performed hundreds of recitals and concerto programs with groups such as the Dallas and St. Louis Symphonies. Mr. Rejto has toured with Music from Marlboro and has performed at the festivals of Santa Fe, Aspen, La Jolla, Round Top and BRAVO! Colorado. Mr. Rejto can be heard on the Silva Classics, Summit, Round Top, and Pickwick recording labels.

Carmit Zori, Violin came to the United States from Israel at age 15 to study at the Curtis Institute. Her numerous honors include the Leventritt Foundation Award, top prize in the Walter Naumburg International Violin Competition, and the Pro Musicus Foundation Award. Ms Zori performs internationally, both as recitalist and as soloist with leading orchestras. She appears with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the Sitka Festival in Alaska. Ms Zori can be heard on various labels, including Arabesque and Koch International.

Program notes: Nancy Monsman

Producer and Engineer: Matthew Snyder

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