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In 2023 the Formosa Quartet, winners of the prestigious Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, embarked on a new recording project featuring the four string quartets of American composer George Frederick McKay. Renowned for their adventurous programming, the quartet recorded these reflective, playful, and intricate works at the historic Bastyr Chapel in Kenmore, Washington, with GRAMMY award-winning producer David Sabee. This world-premiere recording will be the first commercial of these string quartets (said to be McKay's favourite compositional form) and will celebrate the 125th anniversary of his birth. Written between the 1930s and 1950s, McKay's quartets reflect his distinctive musical language, shaped by influences ranging from Civil War-era folk songs and Native American melodies to avant-garde satire from Seattle's urban scene. Album Tracks 1. Quartet No. 1 InchAmerican SketchesInch~I. Allegro maestoso ed appassionato 2. Quartet No. 1 InchAmerican SketchesInch~II. Andantino lontano 3. Quartet No. 1 InchAmerican SketchesInch~III. Allegro giocoso 4. Quartet No. 2 InchAppassionatoInch~I. Allegro marcato 5. Quartet No. 2 InchAppassionatoInch~II. Moderato espressivo 6. Quartet No. 2 InchAppassionatoInch~III. Allegro energico 7. Quartet No. 3 InchPoem of Life and DeathInch~I. Moderato poetica 8. Quartet No. 3 InchPoem of Life and DeathInch~II. Allegretto grazioso 9. Quartet No. 3 InchPoem of Life and DeathInch~III. Adagio espressivo 10. Quartet No. 3 InchPoem of Life and DeathInch~IV. Allegro vigoroso 11. Quartet No. 4 InchMisteri Del BalboaInch~I. Energico molto e marcato 12. Quartet No. 4 InchMisteri Del BalboaInch~II. Andantino lontano e mistico 13. Quartet No. 4 InchMisteri Del BalboaInch~III. Allegro, scherzoso, molto vigoroso
