Presented by Leo Samama.
The Swedish composer Franz Berwald (1796-1868) composed music which was too ‘outrageous’ and perverse to give him any form of success. Because of that, his three String quartets in G minor (1818), in A minor (1849) and in E-flat major (1849) were published long after his passing. The same happened to his four beautiful symphonies and dozens of other works. Berwald composed his music without any academic education, with the consequence that he treated his form and harmony unconventionally, which he was criticized of many times. Especially in the two late quartets it can be heard very well. Many times, this music seems to have been composed a century too early…
Franz Berwald – First string quartet, in G minor (1818)
4. Allegretto
Performers: The Yggdrasil Quartet
CD: BIS
Franz Berwald – Second string quartet, in A minor (1849)
1. Introduzione: Adagio – Allegro, 2. Adagio, 3. Scherzo: Allegro assai, 4. Finale: Allegro molto
Performers: The Yggdrasil Quartet
CD: BIS
Franz Berwald – Third string quartet, in E-flat major (1849)
1. Allegro con brio-Allegro di molto, 2. Adagio quasi Andante, 3. Scherzo: Allegro assai, 4. Adagio, 5. Allegro di molto
Performers: The Yggdrasil Quartet
CD: BIS
