Daniel Belinfante left behind over 100 compositions. Following the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, Belinfante went into hiding but was eventually arrested by the underground resistance. He was subsequently sent from camp Westerbork to Auschwitz and finally to Fürstengrube, where he tragically passed away in a fire in the infirmary in January 1945. His three-part First String Quartet was completed in 1931. Its harmonic language is refreshingly modern.
As a Jewish refugee, late Hungarian Geza Frid arrived in the Netherlands back in 1927. In Hungary, his renowned Hungarian String Quartet performed his Quartet no.1 as early as 1927. His String Quartet no.2 was completed in 1939 and comprises six fugue sections. Geza Frid’s String Quartet no.3, Opus 30 from 1949, is a surprising ‘Fantasia Tropica’ with references to the then Dutch East Indies.
Daniel Belinfante (1893-1945) – String Quartet no.1 (1931)
- Very calm – moderato, 2. Viennese waltz tempo, 3. Allegro (quasi scherzo) – très moderato
Performed by: Damsco Quartet
CD: Donemus Composers’ Voice
Geza Frid (1904-1989) – String Quartet no.2, opus 21 ‘Fuguas’ (1939)
- Andante, 2. Andantino, 3. Allegretto, 4. Allegro, 5. Intermezzo, 6. Finale
Performed by: Amaryllis Quartett
CD: Coviello Classics
Geza Frid (1904-1989) – String Quartet no.3, opus 30 ‘Fantasia tropica’ (1949)
- La sera, 2. La notte
Performed by: Amaryllis Quartett
CD: Coviello Classics
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