Elliott Sharp: String Quartets 2002-2007

Elliott Sharp: String Quartets 2002-2007

Elliott Sharp: String Quartets 2002-2007

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Music CD Cover

Composer: Elliott [1] Sharp
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2008-05-27
Music Label: Tzadik
Soundtracks:

Eye in the Sky, for string quartet
Homage James Tenney, for string quartet
Light in Fog, for string quartet
95 for EC from E#, for string quartet
Dispersion of Seeds, for string quartet
Seize Seas Seeth Seen, for string quartet

Free Music Notes for Elliott Sharp: String Quartets 2002-2007

Free Music Review: a mixed bag from the restless Sharp
Hit: 3 Stars

This is the second set of string quartets from Elliott Sharp, all composed between 2002 and 2007. I reviewed the earlier collection, String Quartets: 1986-1996, also on Tzadik, and found it quite impressive. This new batch is a more mixed bag. Of the six quartets, all performed by the Sirius String Quartet, "Light In Fog" (10'21) and "Dispersion of Seeds" (16'50) are the clear stand-outs. "Light In Fog" was inspired by the Gerhard Richter show at MoMA in 2002 (I saw it at the Chicago Art Institute), and is a protracted, shimmering piece, quite lovely and meditative. "Dispersion of Seeds" is altogether more energetic, written in March 2003 in anger as the U.S. launched its "illegal and immoral bombing of Iraq" to quote E# from the liner notes. It was inspired by Thoreau's writings on the propagation of plant tree species in reforestation, "...a ripe metaphor for the possibility of positive memes thriving and spreading in a time of crass stupidity, fear and militarism."

The other pieces are less impressive. "Eye in the Sky" is an abrasive piece based on the Philip K. Dick novel and addresses the situation of constant surveillance. "Homage James Tenney" is self-evident, as is "95 for EC from E#," written for Elliott Carter's 95th birthday. Finally, "Seize Seas Seeth Seen" is a graphic score. So in other words it is improvised. It has its moments, but lacks the arc and power of the two best works on the disc.

Ron Lawrence on viola provides continuity with the Soldier Quartet which performed the original Sharp quartets from the 1980s. I salute the Sirius Quartet for their excellent performance, Elliott Sharp for his unflagging avant-garde energy and creativity, and Tzadik for making the music available.

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