That many masterpieces can be found in quartet literature is a rather clichéd observation at first sight, especially because the quartet music has never been lacking in attention. Nevertheless, it is still possible that excellent string quartets by well-known composers remain hidden from the general public, as is proven by this Honegger CD by the Erato Quartet. Arthur Honegger (1892-1955) studied
… in Paris with Caplet, Widor and D'Indy and soon became known as a member of the famous 'Groupe de six'. Honegger did not really like the airy aesthetics of this group, as is shown, for example, in the "Quartet No. 1" from 1917. This three-part piece contains Honegger's typical mixture of solid, 'German' polyphony and French clarity. The center of gravity of this quartet is the slow middle movement, which takes as much time as the corner parts put together. Although Honegger had clearly proven himself in this prestigious genre with his first quartet, he left chamber music for a long time. His "Quartet No. 2" was not completed until 1936 and was followed relatively quickly by the "Quartet No. 3" which was completed in 1937. Both are in three parts and differ from their predecessor mainly because of the sharper idiom and the more classical structure. Overall, Honegger's third quartet leaves the strongest impression; the polyphony is more compelling and the predominant atmosphere more expressive than in the second quartet. Be that as it may, it is a mystery that these quartets are so rarely played. They can certainly be counted among the best works in (French) quartet music and it is therefore commendable that such a good recording has now been released as this one. (JvG)more
