Nordic Quartet Excells with Gudmundsen-Holmgreen

This is the second volume of Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen from Dacapo. The Nordic String Quartet has set itself quite a task. Gudmundsen-Holmgreen wrote fourteen string quartets over 27 years. 

And during that same time, he went through four stylistic sea changes. Each change was in stark contrast to the one before. So in essence, the Nordic Quartet has to master four different playing styles. 

Three of the works on this release were commissioned and premiered by Kronos Quartet. String Quartet No. 7 was written in Gudmundsen-Holmgreen's New Simplicity style. Everything's pared down to its essentials -- and then some. 

Superficially, the work can sound minimalist, but it's not. Gudmundsen-Holmgreen uses minimal materials. But his use of them eschews the thrumming rhythms of Steve Reich or Philip Glass.

String Quartet No. 8 (1986) was also written for Kronos. Composed two years after No. 7, it shows Gudmundsen-Holmgreen moving towards a new style. In it, he tests the limits of the instruments and the ensemble. The quartet plays a ground bass pattern that morphs into increasingly complex forms.

Fast forward to 2006. Gudmundsen-Holmgreen's String Quartet No. 9 is for string quartet plus electronics. The composer concentrated on the sound of the natural world -- another change in style. This work also features a ground that serves as a foundation rather than a catalyst.

Gudmundsen-Holmgreen had a reputation for wry humor. And that's the basis of his String Quartet No. 10. It's based on Pachelbel's "Canon in D." Sort of. With a twist. If you're tired of that canon, listen to this work. It should bring a smile to your face. And if you do like it, well, listen to the work. You might gain an insight into that warhorse.

The Nordic String Quartet performs each work to near perfection. I'm looking forward to the next volume -- which may be the most challenging yet.

Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 2
Nordic String Quartet
Dacapo CD 8.226218