About This Item
Ronald Center (1913-73) is sometimes described as 'the Scottish Bartók', and his music does indeed capture some of the stark, wild energy of the Scottish landscape in a style of Bartókian asperity. These three string quartets show him, in his northeast corner of Scotland, to have been fully conversant with the quartets being written around the same time by Barber, Britten and Shostakovich, but their direct manner, terse expression, wiry humor and roots in Scottish folk-music ensure that Center is his own man. Album Tracks 1. String Quartet No. 1~I. Lento - Allegro 2. String Quartet No. 1~II. Allegro ma non troppo 3. String Quartet No. 1~III. Adagio 4. String Quartet No. 1~IV. Moderato - Allegro 5. String Quartet No. 2~I. Adagio - Allegro 6. String Quartet No. 2~II. Vivace 7. String Quartet No. 2~III. Mesto 8. String Quartet No. 2~IV. Allegro molto 9. String Quartet No. 3~I. Lento - Andante 10. String Quartet No. 3~II. Espressivo 11. String Quartet No. 3~III. Molto moderato e sostenuto 12. String Quartet No. 3~IV. Andante 13. String Quartet No. 3~V. Allegro 14. String Quartet No. 3~VI. Andantino 15. String Quartet No. 3~VII. Allegro feroce
