The Silesian string quartet - getString (2010)

The Silesian String Quartet, from Poland, may well be the "Kronos Quartet of Eastern Europe" - which is meant as high praise. This impressive group has a new release on the Danish DaCapo label, "Get String" Each piece on this disc is an example of cutting edge contemporary writing by a young Danish composer and each piece is "linked", almost seamlessly, by what is described as an "electronic mix" - of the pieces before and after the link - by the composer Morten Riis. The key to appreciating this disc is to be prepared for some amazing extended techniques and writing that transforms the string quartet into something almost "beyond" itself - every selection contains moments where the listener is perhaps not quite sure that they are listening to four traditional acoustic stringed instruments. The opening piece, "Circuitous, Mountains" by Jens Voigt-Lund contains ample nervous energy in between little "bursts" of melody and tonality not to mention some incredible bow work played mostly in the uppermost register! A very colorful piece. The Christian Winther Christensen work that follows uses plenty of bounce bow, col legno, harmonics and other technically challenging effects, creating an almost more terrifying relative of "Black Angels" by George Crumb. "Intend/Ascend" (2001) by Jexper Holmen amplifies and distorts the string sound throughout. One player evens switches to celesta near the end! Holmen self describes the feel as savage and indicates that his intent was to develop a work for "string quartet set to music; not a piece of music set for string quartet" Perhaps the most difficult to listen to on the disc, the overall effect is lmost "metal" in its intensity and timbre. Simon Steen-Anderson's "String Quartet" (1999) is a piece driven by energy that the composer likens to a "tour into sound (and) musical line" Various small motives built frequently on harmonics are slid upward and into or donward; away from. "Toward Nothingness" (2005) by Simon Christensen is almost blues/rock in its steady pulse and characterized by a melody that sways as it pulses between major and minor thirds. The cello provides almost a "back beat" in quarter tone tuning around some open fifths. The Riis "mixes" carry such titles as "get string, to string" and "quit string" and are electronically blended. None of these short interludes, which - together with the six main works - make what he considers a "composition of compositions" and are, as a whole, interesting but nearly as satisfying as the other works on the disc. This disc is a cerebral listening experience requiring some concentration but shows off both an incredible ensemble not too familiar to American audiences as well as a intriguing look at some new, brave talent from the European compositional scene.

Tracklist:
JENS VOIGT-LUND (b. 1971)
1 Circuitous, Mountains (1999) 8:56

MORTEN RIIS (b. 1980)
2 getString (2009) 1:43

CHRISTIAN WINTHER CHRISTENSEN (b. 1977)
3 String Quartet (2002-03) 7:06

MORTEN RIIS
4 fromString (2009) 1:12

JEXPER HOLMEN (b. 1971)
5 Intend/Ascend (2000/02) 9:15

MORTEN RIIS
6 useString (2009) 1:21

SIMON STEEN-ANDERSEN (b. 1976)
7 String Quartet (1999) 9:38

MORTEN RIIS
8 toString (2009) 1:33

SIMON CHRISTENSEN (b. 1971)
9 Towards Nothingness (2008) 9:16

MORTEN RIIS (b. 1980)
10 quitString (2009) 4:38

Total: 54:43