Arthur Foote - String Quartet No. 2 /Piano Quartet, Op.23

 

Arthur Foote

 

 

(5 March 1853 in Salem, Massachusetts -- 8 April 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts)

 American classical composer, and a member of the "Boston Six."

The other five were George Whitefield Chadwick, Amy Beach, Edward MacDowell, John Knowles

Paine, and Horatio Parker.

 

String Quartet No. 2

 

 

Arthur Foote's primary musical output was created for smaller ensembles. His works don't stray from 19th- century European traditions, but they are all well-written pieces that display technical mastery of harmony and melodic sophistication.

The second string quartet was completed in 1893 and performed in 1894 by the Kneisel Quartet, an ensemble of no small reputation in the U.S. during this period. Foote gave credit to Franz Kneisel for presenting his music alongside the great works of the chamber repertoire. He dedicated his Piano Quintet in A minor to the quartet in 1898.

In this performance by Da Vinci Quartet, you will hear a lively first recording of Foote's String Quartet No. 2 in its entirety.

 

 

                    Piano Quartet,  Op.23

 

As for the Piano Quartet, the opinion is that "it is as good as any late 19th century piano quartet."