The Flonzaley Quartet plays Smetana · Dohnanyi and Spirituals & Trad. Folk Music

Posted By: DanseDePuck

The Flonzaley Quartet plays Smetana · Dohnanyi and Spirituals & Trad. Folk Music
Chamber | EAC Rip, FLAC tracks, cue, no log | 1 CD | 231 MB | Covers on PDF by Pristine
Release date: September 2009 | Label: Pristine | Rec. 1926-29 | Transfer & mastering by Mark Obert-Thorn

From the notes: The Flonzaley made its first recording attepts in 1913 for Victor, but its earliest issued discs date from five years later. From that time until its disbandment in 1929, the Flonzaley was the première string quartet ensemble for the Victor/HMV family of labels. They recorded prolifically, with 32 acoustic and 92 electric sides published during the 78 rpm era, as well as another 11 sides that were first issued on LP or CD [Biddulph]. Even those numbers pale in comparison to the 860 total matrices they recorded. Their quest for perfection is evidenced by the high take number on the medley of two Spirituals presented here. The issued take came only after having recorded the work over eight sessions stretching over fourteen months."notes by Mark Obert-Thorn

SMETANA: String Quartet in E minor,"From My Life"
1. I. Allegro viva appassionato
2. II. Allegro moderato alla polka
3. III. Largo sostenuto
4. IV. Vivace
Rec. 19-20 March, 1929

DOHNÁNYI: String Quartet No. 2 in D flat, Op. 15
5. I. Andante
6. II. Presto acciacato
7. III. Molto adagio animato
Rec. 10-21 October, 1927

SPIRITUALS (Arr. Alfred Pochon)
8. Go down, Moses; Swing low, sweet chariot
Rec. 11 Feb. 1926
9. Deep River
Rec. 4 Jan. 1927

10. POCHON: Irish Cradle Song
Rec.10-Feb. 1926

TRADITIONAL (Arr. Alfred Pochon)
11. Irish Reel
12. Sally in our alley (Old English Tune)
13. Turkey in the straw

The Flonzaley Quartet
Adolfo Betti, Violin I
Alfred Pochon, Violin II
Nicolas Moldavan, Viola
Iwan d'Archambeau, Cello


This is the 3rd and last CD by The Flonzaley that I have managed to get. There is still the "American" Quartet by Dvorák which they did record. This is still missing from my archives. It must be somewhere or on a Biddulph that I may have missed. Please enjoy as we won't hear the likes of players like these today!

Previous "Flonzaley Quartet" posts:
Schubert · Brahms · Schumann
Haydn · Mozart · Beethoven