Simply Strings

This quartet was written in 1954 when the composer, Carlo Martelli, was a 19 year old student at the Royal College of Music. This publication is of a recent revision of the work. There are three distinct sets of ideas in the first movement which are freely developed, although vestiges of sonata form can be discerned. The second movement is a scherzo and trio, which is joined without a break to the slow third movement - an interesting feature of this conjunction, is that at the close of the slow movement ideas from the trio and then the scherzo return to round things off. The last movement is a succession of free variations on a theme in which the interval of a fourth predominates. For conservatories and professionals.

The Pavão Quartet recorded this work in August 2012 on the CD Carlo Martelli, released in October 2013 by Discadia Records, DISCA 002. Included on the same CD, and also published by Broadbent & Dunn, are Martelli’s String Quartet No. 1, Prelude and Fugue for String Sextet Terzetto for Two Violins and Viola.

This piece by Dominic Sewell was written for the Junior Course at Pro Corda Summer School (the National String Chamber Music Academy) where it received its first performance. It is an excellent introduction to tonal contemporary music for younger students aged 12 to 18. The piece is good for teaching purposes as it is short but also provides some technical and ensemble difficulties.

This piece by Dominic Sewell was written for the Junior Course at Pro Corda Summer School (the National String Chamber Music Academy) where it received its first performance. It is an excellent introduction to tonal contemporary music for younger students aged 12 to 18. The piece is good for teaching purposes as it is short but also provides some technical and ensemble difficulties.

A solid, serious work for aspiring string quartets or established groups, this piece was the subject of a master class from the Wihan Quartet from the Czech Republic. The quartet, inspired by Janáček's Intimate Letters quartet, was similarly inspired by letters from a woman to her lover. It is scored in three contrasting movements consisting of a gestural first movement, a slow arch form second movement and a fiery syncopated 5/4 finale.

A solid, serious work for aspiring string quartets or established groups, this piece was the subject of a master class from the Wihan Quartet from the Czech Republic. The quartet, inspired by Janáček's Intimate Letters quartet, was similarly inspired by letters from a woman to her lover. It is scored in three contrasting movements consisting of a gestural first movement, a slow arch form second movement and a fiery syncopated 5/4 finale.

Most string quartets are long, but this short little piece in one movement was intended as an encore item, but could also fit comfortably into any portfolio for weddings or other functions. For schools, colleges, conservatories and professionals.

Most string quartets are long, but this short little piece in one movement was intended as an encore item, but could also fit comfortably into any portfolio for weddings or other functions. For schools, colleges, conservatories and professionals.

Written above all to be enjoyed by the players, audiences have shown that they too share that same delight. Both of Mason's string quartets are in four movements which exploit the instruments on equal terms, and both are in a musical language that enables the strings to sing as they should. These two quartets will happily share any programme with music from Haydn to Debussy and beyond.

Written above all to be enjoyed by the players, audiences have shown that they too share that same delight. Both of Mason's string quartets are in four movements which exploit the instruments on equal terms, and both are in a musical language that enables the strings to sing as they should. These two quartets will happily share any programme with music from Haydn to Debussy and beyond.