REINHARD SCHWARZ-SCHILLING (1904-1985): Symphony for Strings (String Quartet) in F Minor, ANDERS ELIASSON (1947-2013): In medias for Solo Violin (Rebekka Hartmann), PETER MICHAEL HAMEL (b.1947): Ulisono for 14 Solo Strings, ARVO PÄRT (b.1935): Orient & Occident, WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791): 1st movement from String Quartet in C, K 465 "Dissonance", LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827): Cavatina from String Quartet in B Flat, Op. 130.

Description: The reason for offering this odd coupling (it was a live concert except for the main event, which was also recorded a few days after the concert for this disc) is the 1932 Schwarz-Schilling quartet. The composer himself arranged the first movement for string orchestra and it was performed by Celibidache in Berlin in 1949 and, though he tells us nothing in the notes, we assume conductor Schlüren has done the honors for the other two movements. This 40-minute work has monumental, granitic qualities and I can do no better than to quote from a review of this orchestra's live concert performance: "a spacious and deeply probing work akin to an ancient tragedy: a gaunt, tight-knit, fatefully austere, and heavy with lamentaion. All without grand pathos, but with urgent and strong gestures". The Hamel and Pärt are quite interesting too! Symphonia Momentum; Christoph Schlüren.