FERNANDO LOPES-GRAÇA (1906-1994): Complete Music for String Quartet and Piano, Vol. 1 - String Quartet No. 1, Suite Rustica No. 2 for String Quartet, Canto de Amor e de Morte for Piano Quintet.

Description: A wiry, Bartókian style permeates all three of these works (from 1964, 1965 and 1961 respectively) to one extent or other and one of them, the Suite Rustica, was recorded by this same quartet on a Númerica disc we offered back in October of 2009. Rhythmic vitality and harmonic ambiguity generally stand in for traditional tonality but the vigor and mood of each piece easily carry the listener through. As a bonus, the pianist (who worked closely with Lopes-Graça as a performer) plays the composer's own c. 1920 Bechstein in the dark and moody Canto de Amore e de Morte. Olga Prats (piano), Quarteto Lopes-Graça.