Benjamin Britten - String Quartet No. 1, Op. 25

[@robintranter8260]

A magical opening to this quartet. Britten was to rework this idea a number of times in other works e.g. opening on Canticle 2 but was never able to improve upon it. I personally prefer this quartet to no 2 & 3. It has the confidence of youth without any lack of technique needed to pull it off.

[@mckavitt13]

I prefer it also, but we are in the minority.

[@josephlaredo5272]

After hearing that, I'm falling back in love with Britten! Thanks for posting.

[@stueystuey1962]

I've had that experience with a few composers. Hindemith comes to mind.

[@binacaman]

Thank you for posting this. One of my personal all-time favorites. A work of incredible, heart wrenching delicacy and profundity.

[@TheRobertcrow]

Many thanks for the upload + score! Have been waiting a long time for this.

[@geraldharvey8979]

Fourth movement: Wow!

[@aristoslifeenhancement4370]

Thank you for this. Great to see the score alongside this and Quartet No 3. Any chance of seeing No 2 soon?

[@JJC333]

I think this piece sounds like Beethoven would live longer about 171 years old to compose a quartet.

[@ValzainLumivix]

Cool

[@stueystuey1962]

Britten wants to show up in my autoplay algorithm after I cleared my watch history. Exciting stuff relatively speaking. Seems to anticipate many modern gestures but i find it achingly traditional. I prefer his modern moves to Ives' who can be a bit pretentious but I will confirm that by listening to Ives. Elliott Carter learned something here. That is what KZbin is telling me.

[@robertbradymusic]

If anyone is interested listening to Britten's "Simple Symphony" op.4 whilst watching the whole score, Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYTZhIKNl7OBg6s

[@xkiragaming3168]

yorgos lanthimos used this to make more refined and soothing scene.

[@kawaiimele9510]

I almost cried when i see that scene of the movie

[@xkiragaming3168]

@@kawaiimele9510 I love u

[@ryanbuxtonmusic]

@@kawaiimele9510 Which movie please :) :)

[@iago8761]

@@ryanbuxtonmusic the lobster 2015 Y. Lanthimos

[@davidcarmona7992]

Which film???

[@yamden]

baaaaai yum . . . bada tadada tadada ta dum

[@geraldharvey8979]

Oh, dear. There are many works of Britten I listen to over and over with great pleasure, but his more abstract style often leaves me cold. This is music that is fun to play, but agonizing to listen to. I mean, how many measures of pianississimo skittering strings playing in their highest registers do we need? May we not have a little more charm and winsomeness?

[@adrianwright8685]

Reading the other comments it is clear that not everyone finds it 'agonising' ! Perhaps more to do with you than the music?

[@luketownshend5524]

I would argue that any recording will detract from the timbre Britten aims to achieve here. Although I have never heard this quartet live I would imagine it may sound more pleasing in a concert hall

[@geraldharvey8979]

Luke Townshend Excellent point! Of course hearing it live would be a wholly different experience. Thanks!

[@geraldharvey8979]

adrian wright No doubt you’re right. I find his early works are so sunny, quirky, and energetic, but, to me, the later works have a tendency to be a bit static and shrill. Certainly not all. Death in Venice may be rather static, but it has many episodes full of richly, warm music.

[@mckavitt13]

@@luketownshend5524 I think it sounds wonderful!