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Wagenseil: Quartets for low strings Nos. 1-6

Piccolo Concerto Wien, Roberto Sensi

Wagenseil: Quartets for low strings Nos. 1-6
With nothing higher than violas on the top lines, and a double bass permanently in the frame, Wagenseil's urbane quartets inhabit a richly burnished soundworld, ravishingly realised here.

Wagenseil: Quartets for low strings Nos. 1-6

Piccolo Concerto Wien, Roberto Sensi

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44.1 kHz, 16 bit, FLAC/ALAC/WAV

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320 kbps, MP3

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This release includes a digital booklet

Stream now lossless, 44.1 kHz, 16 bit
With nothing higher than violas on the top lines, and a double bass permanently in the frame, Wagenseil's urbane quartets inhabit a richly burnished soundworld, ravishingly realised here.

About

The importance of Georg Christoph Wagenseil (1715-1777) in the development of the classical symphony cannot be underestimated, and his concertos were also significant in the development of early Viennese classicism. As its chief representative, Wagenseil unites Italian, French and German stylistic elements in his works, as was typical of the early 18th century.

The Six Quartets for Low Strings occupy a special position in the chamber music of Wagenseil, simply by virtue of their unusual scoring and the type of classical four-movement quartet that was just coming into being. The two upper parts can be performed by either two cellos or two violas, as desired; the lower parts are played by a cello and a double bass.

Both variants, equally attractive in sound, can be heard on the present double CD.

The Piccolo Concerto Vienna under the direction of the double bassist Roberto Sensi introduces music to us that is notable, not least for a typically Viennese quality: charm.

Contents and tracklist

I. Vivace
Track length6:43
II. Larghetto
Track length6:35
III. Menuet
Track length4:31
IV. Vivace
Track length1:34
I. Allegro non troppo
Track length4:52
II. Menuet
Track length4:46
III. Largo
Track length6:16
IV. Allegro assai
Track length2:36
I. Comodo
Track length2:43
II. Allegro molto
Track length2:35
III. Larghetto
Track length3:59
IV. Tempo di menuet
Track length2:45
I. Andante
Track length4:27
II. Allegro
Track length3:04
III. Andante
Track length6:09
IV. Tempo di menuet
Track length2:19
I. Vivace
Track length4:49
II. Menuet
Track length4:45
III. Andante
Track length3:12
IV. Spiritoso
Track length1:38
I. Allegro assai
Track length3:55
II. Menuet
Track length5:29
III. Larghetto
Track length4:39
IV. Vivace
Track length3:03

Awards and reviews

December 2013

With nothing higher than violas on the top lines, and a double bass permanently in the frame, Wagenseil's urbane quartets inhabit a richly burnished soundworld, ravishingly realised here.

Early Music Review December 2013

I loved listening to these tuneful delights… voices blending together rather than stark contrasts between very high and very low… these six work played so beautifully by this exceptionally fine ensemble, prove that he truly was a gifted composer and one who certainly merits more attention.
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