String Quartet No. 1 in E minor
String Quartet No. 2 in B-flat major
Lullaby for String Quartet
This album is the debut CD for both the Helikon Quartet and composer Maarten ter Horst.
The CD features String Quartet 1 & String Quartet 2: two completely new works of which the first notes were written in 2017 and the last notes during the spring lockdown in 2020. The works convey a wide range of emotions: String Quartet 1 is a musical journey from frustration to courage, and String Quartet 2 is a work about love, memories and dreams. The music uses a timeless, melodic language, a surprising new perspective on the classical string quartet tradition.
In 2020, Ter Horst approached the Helikon Quartet to have a look at his music, and according to the quartet, “his music speaks for itself, we couldn’t help but fall in love with it”. Ter Horst was their direct source of inspiration, accompanying them in exploring their possibilities and imagination. His journey of love, doubt, fighting and hope is inspiring to them and will be, they believe, to many others.
Recording: Koepelkerk, Renswoude, The Netherlands, 24, 25 & 26 August 2020/12 & 13 January 2021. Instruments: 1830 Raffaele and Antonio Gagliano (violin); ca. 1880 by Joseph Hel (violin); modern viola built in 2011 by Alfons Pisters.
