Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994)

[krummholz]

Isn't it great? 😁

Enjoying #4 at the moment, which has some of the tension that I found in #2.

For me, it has a fairly fraught and ominous first movement, with the intrusive violin uncomfortably breaking in to the opening cello pizzicato. There is a only a fleeting peace, before it gives way to a fractious and darker mood.  Maconchy allows that unease to dominate the allegro molto, with frankly little relief in the third movement, either. The final  presto is both climactic and lyrical.

Lots to like about this cycle, so far.

Yes, definitely! I'll have to listen to #4 again soon. When I first made the acquaintance of her music, that one didn't really hit me, but that was many years ago now. I'll have to give it another listen.

[Spotted Horses]

I've been an admirer of Maconchy for a long time, and am mortified that I've never dug into her string quartets, although I've had the set of recordings discussed. Too much music, too little time!

[Mirror Image]

I really wish some enterprising string quartet would get around to re-recording her SQs. The current set on Unicorn leaves much to be desired I'm afraid. Per usual with this label, the fidelity just isn't that great either.

[Spotted Horses]

Managed to find time to listen to the first quartet.



Taut, acerbic music. I think I am going to enjoy this journey. The third movement (andante sostenuto) was particularly engaging, lyrical with often tense harmonies.

[foxandpeng]

I really wish some enterprising string quartet would get around to re-recording her SQs. The current set on Unicorn leaves much to be desired I'm afraid. Per usual with this label, the fidelity just isn't that great either.

I'm all for that. Alternative recordings can't be a bad thing! It's a shame that such a fine cycle isn't more broadly served. Not being able to read a score leaves me unable to comment on the fidelity of the performance, but the sound fidelity/quality and playing seem recommendable enough for an amateur listener in the meantime 😁

Managed to find time to listen to the first quartet.



Taut, acerbic music. I think I am going to enjoy this journey. The third movement (andante sostenuto) was particularly engaging, lyrical with often tense harmonies.

Looking forward to hearing a more knowledgeable voice if you get chance to post your thoughts!

[Spotted Horses]

Looking forward to hearing a more knowledgeable voice if you get chance to post your thoughts!

I don't know if I qualify as more knowledgeable, but I plan to post my impressions, although given my time constraints it will be slow going. Thanks for reminding me of this music, which has been moldering on my hard drive for years.

A composer which seems to be crossed circuited in my brain with Maconchy is Bacewicz, another relatively unknown female composer from the mid 20th century. Both are underrepresented in recordings, but Maconchy even more so. It would be great to see more works recorded.

[Rinaldo]

A composer which seems to be crossed circuited in my brain with Maconchy is Bacewicz, another relatively unknown female composer from the mid 20th century. Both are underrepresented in recordings, but Maconchy even more so. It would be great to see more works recorded.

Yes, yes, resounding yes! I don't remember the exact connection, but one led me to another. Both deserve much more recognition, there's some truly great music in their oeuvre.

[Spotted Horses]

Yes, yes, resounding yes! I don't remember the exact connection, but one led me to another. Both deserve much more recognition, there's some truly great music in their oeuvre.

Bacewicz' string quartets and some of the orchestral works for strings have received good recordings, but there is a series of symphonies which has languished. I came across a YouTube video of one, extremely poor sound quality, but enough to make it clear how awesome it would be to have a proper recording.

Back to Maconchy, listened to the second quartet this morning. It is a longer, most substantial work than the first quartet and interest centers on two slow movements (the first and third movements, which are lyrical, intense and inventive. I find the performance skillful and committed.

[foxandpeng]

Elizabeth Maconchy
Complete String Quartets
SQs #5 and #6
Bingham Quartet

The more I hear this cycle, the more convinced I am of the quality of the playing and recorded sound across all three ensembles. The Bingham do an excellent job of this middle sequence #5 through #8. Fine works that don't fail to hold my attention from the most engaging and accessible #5 & #6,  to the dissonance of #8. I don't doubt that this cycle would be better served by attention from recordings by more celebrated musicians, but the players here have the measure of Maconchy.

The lentos in #5 are the high points of the quartet, and the third movement in particular. There is something arresting about that six minutes which speaks quality, both bowed and plucked.

As for #6, Maconchy is very much in full flow. The passacaglia with its opening cello themes and punctuated pizzicatos, rising tensions and lingering conclusion, the nimble stepping of the scherzando, the deliberate and restrained emotion of the lento, and the final movement's energetic conclusion paint this a winner for me.

Why is this cycle not better known?

[Spotted Horses]

Maconchy continues to impress me. The Third string quartet, in one movement of just over 10 minutes, is wonderfully intense, obsessive, thematically tight.

[Spotted Horses]

Returning to Maconchy String Quartets, recently No 8 and 9. Both brilliant works, thorny and focused. I find this cycle holds it's own with the best of the 20th century.



I think these recorded performances are excellent, but it would be nice to have an alternative. Maybe someday.

[Skogwald]

I keep coming back to these quartets, each one is a perfectly focused gem. At this point I would probably call them the greatest cycle of the 20th century!

[foxandpeng]

I keep coming back to these quartets, each one is a perfectly focused gem. At this point I would probably call them the greatest cycle of the 20th century!

I rate them very highly, too 

[KevinP]

I haven't tackled her quartets yet, but I'm currently really enjoying her opera The Sofa.

So far the only other work I've heard is her bassoon concerto, but I'll be digging deeper.

[KevinP]

I realise that JD Vance never actually said what is attributed to him regarding sex and a couch (according to Snopes), but it's very weird to be seeing all these memes about it right when I've discovered Maconchy's The Sofa.