10 ESSENTIAL STRING SEXTETS for BEGINNERS

[@GreatMammothPictures]

You're the man for mentioning the Martinu. An amazing piece, nothing else sounds like it. Jazzy!

[@apointofinterest8574]

"When the moonbeam hits her uterus" was Shoenberg's placeholder title, until he settled on Verklärte Nacht.

[@dennischiapello3879]

🙄Oh, Arnold!

[@ervinvice1521]

I immediately jumped on this and looked for a good Boccherini sextet collection. I found a 1992 release on the Capriccio label that sounds marvelous.

[@Mezzotenor]

Dave, God love you... I just listened to the Brahms G major while working on bills at work, and I was enchanted!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Wow, thank you! I really appreciate your taking the time to listen!

[@petterw5318]

I don't like much the orchestral version of Verklärte Nacht, but the sextet is amazing. Once I attended a live performance and I realised that the first viola is the part that has to work the most.

[@douglastaylor999]

OK, thanks to you I listened to my first string sextet. Can I ask a question pls - I am in my late 60's and enjoy classical music (a clarinet player who didn't get very far). I converted all my CDs to mp3 and don't want to start collecting them again as our next living quarters will likely be a retirement apartment etc. However, you regularly mention downloading music on your shows. I have downloaded quite a bit of music from KZbin....but are there better, more complete sources from which you can download legally for personal use? WOuld appreciate any ideas... Many thanks... DT

[@dennischiapello3879]

"The sooner you get into Brahms' chamber music, the sooner you'll get into Brahms." Truer words were never spoken! For years I was highly ambivalent about Brahms. It seemed to me that in his orchestral works, especially the symphonies (of course) he was almost ashamed of his melodic gift. Whenever I hear the final movement of the First Symphony, I brace myself for the development section, when he takes that beautiful hymn-like melody and subjects it to musical Cross-Fit, turning it into something muscular and highly annoying.

[@vdtv]

Ah! You hang out here, too? :-) Wouter

[@dennischiapello3879]

@@vdtv What a nice surprise! I hope you're well. I dropped my Facebook habit, which meant unfortunately saying good bye to our terrific discussion group. Now this is part of my morning constitutional.

[@woutervandoorn6851]

@@dennischiapello3879 the group has been very quiet of late, unfortunatey. And facebook is getting no better, so I understand you very well! I have to admit that I dislike fb more with every new bug they introduce. The latest being that you can no longer use paragraphs in replies to comment. Brilliant. Cheers!

[@dennischiapello3879]

@@woutervandoorn6851 No paragraphs? Why don't they get rid of apostrophes while they're at it? No one knows how to use them anymore, except you, me and a few of our friends.

[@vdtv]

@@dennischiapello3879 you might be on to something. Yes, possessives would go wrong massively, but not that much more than they do anyway, whereas all plurals would suddenly be a lot better. Could be a net winner.

[@GregHarradineComposer]

A great list, thanks Dave. I've just been commissioned to compose a string sextet - my first - so wish me luck!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Best of luck!

[@kanishknishar]

How did the commission go?

[@davidhowe6905]

Looking forward to hearing ASMF chamber string ensemble play Brahms op 18 (among other things incl. Bach 6 part ricercar) next month at the Bradfield festival near Sheffield UK.

[@lpldl]

Would you recommend a recording of the Korngold? Haven't heard it and now I'm intrigued.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Try the Raphael Ensemble on Hyperion, with a very fine Verklarte Nacht too.

[@lpldl]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Will do! Really appreciated and looking forward to the essential Octet list😁

[@vdtv]

When you mentioned Tchaikovsky's other works, you talked about "a couple" of piano trios. Now I'm a complete sucker for big T's chamber works (yeah, well, I can leave the violin and piano stuff alone), but know only of the one. The big one. It could easily have been a slip of the tongue/memory combination - Rachmaninov was a good one for an elegiac trio or two after all. But on the off-chance Tchaikovsky really wrote another one: where can I find out about it? Thanks!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

No, it was a slip of the tongue. Sorry!

[@vdtv]

@@DavesClassicalGuide aww... Thanks for clearing it up!

[@robh9079]

You've put a medical slant on Verklärte Nacht I can't unhear....

[@gartenkauz2152]

I wonder if it is coincidence that you talk about sextets now or if there was an inspiration.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

No, it's a coincidence.

[@gartenkauz2152]

Deutsche ﹰKammerphilharmonie Bremen (or members of) are playing the Brahms 2nd and the Dvorak next Thursday.