Hagen Quartet - Maurice Ravel - String Quartet in F - Vif et agité (4/4)

The fourth and final movement of 28 year-old Ravel's Quatuor à Cordes. He is said to have been meticulous in his writing, and, finally, a group of musicians have matched his efforts in terms of attention. This is, in my opinion, the best performance and recording of this piece.
Exploding with a firey tremolo motif comes vif et agité, the necessary rush after the calm that was the previous movement. It allows the theme from the first movement to be returned, but unlike très lent, which sleepily repeats it, vif et agité presents a variation giving it a sense of rebirth; a nice contrast to the fire of the trems and pizzicato chords. Befittingly, the quartet ends as it started: in F. Though Fauré said this movement was a failure due to its bad structure, I have to disagree. Vif et agité is strikingly successful as a finale, allows us to revisit ideas presented, and sends us off in a flurry of exhilaration. Besides, structure shouldn't take precedence over style.
This video includes over 2 minutes of applause. Why? Because they're that good.
Hagen Quartet:
First Violin - Lukas Hagen (Austria)
Second Violin - Rainer Schmidt (Germany)
Viola - Veronika Hagen (Austria)
'Cello - Clemens Hagen (Austria)
Concert hall - Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria. (2000.)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the copyrights. I am uploading these in the spirit of sharing artistry and education. I urge you to visit the following links and consider purchasing:
The avi file, www.medici.tv/#...
And/or the DVD, www.hbdirect.co...

[@thegoodgeneral]

With the nascence of progressive scan control on KZbin, this video quality might soon be outdated.

[@thegoodgeneral]

Dang, I fucking called it.

[@owenkrahl7446]

@@thegoodgeneral lol

[@u-N16z0rz]

@@thegoodgeneral What does this mean?

[@thegoodgeneral]

@@u-N16z0rz back when I posted the videos in 2009, you couldn’t select “240p-360p-720p” etc. as a user. All videos looked blurry back then. People kept commenting how my uploads looked to have high visual fidelity, but then YT introduced being able to control the visual quality and I speculated that this would cease the comments about the fidelity. The videos are limited to 360p… though they still look quite nice!

[@u-N16z0rz]

@@thegoodgeneral Oh okay. By any chance do you know where I can download/purchase the original version of this recording?

[@stefanscherbik2088]

Apparently Matt Damon, Stanley Kubrick, Helen Hunt, and slightly older Matt Damon are really good at strings.

[@aryanis83]

on that day, cca 6 months ago, you won the internet sir.

[@JVQ8Y]

I think it's Mark Hamill on the cello.

[@HCalibSimmons1]

The headbanging at 4:39-4:44 = righteous 🤘🏽

[@pauliunknown8118]

I saw the Hagen quartet in Barcelona a few years ago, amazing Haydn they played. The only difference is that now they all have beautiful silver-grey hair.

[@Imabanana847]

This might be the fastest I've ever heard this movement. Absolutely face-melting 😵

[@Newton14alan]

Mr. Moose ---- I can't believe that you used the adjective, "face-melting"! While I was taking in this performance, I was thinking how incredible (or maybe frightening) it would be to watch it while tripping. The last thing I thought was that someone else on this thread would concur! Thank you!

[@stynway59]

While tripping would be an amazing adjunct to this, no questions asked, it has already the power to take you there on sonic power alone

[@princeandrey]

Yes, for better or worse. I can't decide. I think fast is good here, but maybe a just bit less. But they were making a point, and I sympathize with it. Psychedelics notwithstanding!

[@martinbreeson9637]

Brilliant composition. Brilliant performers. Perfect match.

[@benharri]

@ArtD42 I went to Germany over spring break and attended a performance of Carmen. I stood at the end and was quite out of place. It is more typical to see audiences in Germany and Austria simply clap for a very long time or stomp their feet to show their appreciation of the performance.

[@antoniocoppola7644]

mi sembra la migliore esecuzione di questo assoluto capolavoro che abbia mai sentito semplicemente perché è stato come se l'avessi sentito per la prima volta.

[@myheartloveandsoul]

Wow, did you see how they owned the end of that song!!! Finishing chord. Bows flying off strings. Then standing up like BADASSES!

[@dorkadezso5826]

This performance is my favourite.

[@jeromeweingart5596]

It's great that we have so many fine versions of so much chamber music to choose from. Thanks for getting back to me and special thanks for your uploads.

[@jankovskialeksandar]

Thank you so much for including the lengthy (AND WELL-DESERVED) applause!

[@musicat1984]

Uno dei più bei quartetti mai scritti... Splendida esecuzione, grazie per averla condivisa!

[@condedetrevino]

Most unique and splendid performance. A wanderful interpretation. Their understanding of Ravel seems to me to be quiete adequate to say the least. Thank you so very much for sharing.

[@DanZedDannyboy6009]

Amazing performance ~ Great Group, excellent choice of repertoire, AND the Violist is Hott... Top Marks!!!!!

[@ibk82]

Ravel is just the best. Ravel é simplesmente o melhor.

[@loboris1995]

I've got one with the Carmirelli Quartet.The CD includs the trio of Ravel by beaux arts trio(1984)and the introduction and Allegro with Phia Berghout on harp.the cd is availeble on Amazon ;)

[@thegoodgeneral]

I'd have to say that this is my favorite string quartet as well. Ravel's mastery centered more on instrumentation rather than orchestration, I think.

[@trammina]

ho fatto l'applauso da casa... alla fine... ! Bravissimi! :-))))

[@vespertinist]

I’ve just subscribed to your channel - because of your good comments on my own today - & noticed you have Ravel’s string quartet. It is my favourite quartet & think it is the best written by far! :) So, I was going to give it a thumbs up & noticed it was already done! :) I’ve been here before & watched/liked your vids!

[@vespertinist]

It’s Earendil Marriner btw ;)

[@thegoodgeneral]

@@vespertinist occasionally I meet musicians in real life and we end up talking about this piece-then they link me to this video and I go, "haha yeah that's my KZbin channel." You got Discord, bud?

[@adeoluwakolawole7838]

Anyone notice Une Barque Sur L'Ocean at 3:52 ?

[@sergioazevedo7390]

of course, ah ah, it's impossible to miss that if you know the piano piece :)

[@MadCat787]

The best string quartet to come out of the 20th century, for me at least! Mind-boggling performance of it as well :)

[@Panda2rimshot]

Real Talent ..Fantastic

[@kangsoeun]

wunderbar gespielt~~~!!!!

[@cynic150]

I have not heard very many , but i really like the Vlach Quartet recoding of some years ago.

[@vladiinsky]

That is called 1st A platinum - class playing! I ve started to listen the 1st mov just to check it out fast before going to bed, but I couldnt stop untill I ve heard the whole performance! But, what also struck me was the way they bowed to the audience: First the cellist, then 1st violinist and violist, and after all the Hagens 2nd violin (Schmidt) in the end. Is this a coincidence or not? It was repeated every time! Maybe I am just crazy :)

[@pnut212002]

Totally. There is certain music that I start up just because I know I like it- and then I just freeze in place and can't do anything but listen.... This is one of those. Other examples for me are Mark Kozelek and Phil Elverum's music.

[@garratafes]

Maravilla...y qué expresividad ! Gracias

[@marycordillera]

Superbe! Merci de le partager.

[@carbonc6065]

Vibrato on the cello ... Thank you!

[@DistractionDonkey]

they thanked the audience for the warm applause. nearly everyone does that after a concert.

[@BrendanEderMusic]

looking down at the score. looking up at the performance. looking down at the score. looking up at the performance

[@WhiteLongSword7]

That was intensely awesome. Why do they go in and out three times? I don't watch performances like this often, so I'm not sure as to what that means. And, are the two Hagens brothers and the lady their mother?

[@bmort1313]

No, the "Hagen" quartet was formed by the four Hagen siblings.

[@stynway59]

Its because the audience is still clapping. As I would have been

[@thegoodgeneral]

@djmomo17 You're welcome. I've heard those quartets before, though not performed by Hagen.

[@thegoodgeneral]

@ArtD42 I dunno. They were quiet during the performance and waited until the reverb from the last notes dissipated before clapping, and then clapped for quite a while. I'm cool with that.

[@thegoodgeneral]

@MoshToMendelssohn Wow, good luck on the learning and performance! Tough piece for sure, glad that Hagen serves as an example of how cohesive this messy music can be.

[@stynway59]

Messy? I'd assume that's a compliment

[@WhiteLongSword7]

@thegoodgeneral Haha I thought that was some sort of "classical performers etiquette" or something. Thanks for answering both queries.

[@manuelbes]

What an opening

[@jeromeweingart5596]

I am dismayed by thegoodgeneral' s comments about "finally, a group of musicians .." There have been many superb recorded performances for the Ravel quartet of the last several decades. One of the very best, in my view as a violist who has performed this work, is by the Juilliard String Quartet in 1959. It is much superior to the Hagen Quartet's performance, and worth seeking out by those who love this work.

[@llcamus249]

Awesome!

[@thegoodgeneral]

@cynic150 Whose interpretation is more to your liking?

[@organfreak]

I agree that it's very good, but my favorite recording is by The Stuyvesant, which is hard to get but still available.

[@Cesariono]

Why did they leave and come back several times after the performance?

[@doloresgarciadelgado6956]

thats what you do when people dont stop the applaus

[@thegoodgeneral]

Plenty of fine performances out there as you point out. But there are also plenty of fine string quartets out there. I said it was my opinion that this meticulously written quartet was finally matched in terms of effort by these musicians, once again, it my opinion. You need not dismay if disagree. I've always felt the recording you reference to be a little weak, as is often the case with this piece. (I feel similarly about their recording of Debussy's.) Even Hagen's original recording flims.

[@thegoodgeneral]

Introduction et Allegro est-il bien joué? J'adore cette piece mais je suis toujours à la recherche d'une interprétation parfaite. J'y ne trouve pas! Merci!

[@loboris1995]

I hope that one day you would find and show me the "perfect version";)

[@thegoodgeneral]

@papertiger11216 It's called vif et agité, what did you expect?

[@bronxboy47]

What happened to the 3rd movement?

[@thegoodgeneral]

Did you look on my channel? kzbin.info/www/bejne/moe4g6d7btCgmKM

[@thegoodgeneral]

Merci. Je crois déjà l'avoir écouté. La partie d'harpe est très bien joué, malheureusement je trouve que les cordes on parfois une intonation un peu "flimsy," trop de vibrato et trop faible. But that's just me! I like really clean tunings, Ravel did not. I'm glad it was a good discovery for you. : )

[@lardook]

does it affect play if the bow has loose strands

[@bmort1313]

No, unless it's a severe loss. One or two doesn't affect much.

[@stynway59]

No

[@loboris1995]

je l'ai tout de facon trouve sur youtube,la harpiste s'appelle Phia Berghout

[@thegoodgeneral]

You're welcome. : )

[@Modupe5566]

Did anyone else notice the bow hair came of?

[@DawgsRQt]

+kayligh jones That's very common, especially when playing something as rough as this piece

[@Modupe5566]

+upbowstaccatogivesmenightmares I see...

[@goldmole1]

They have a barber shop quartet supporting them backstage;-)

[@thegoodgeneral]

@WhiteLongSword7 The audience keeps clapping so the performers keep coming out! And nope, Clemens, Veronika, and Lukas are all siblings.

[@nousernamewhatsoever]

@upi95 LOL!!xD it sure looks intense!that's some hardcore stuff for you :)

[@loboris1995]

mince,je n'avais pas relu mon commentaire precedent au sujet de l'harpiste,dsl.Selon moi qui ne connais pas bien la piece,ce fut une tres belle decouvert,pour moi l'introduction et allegro a ete bien execute

[@thegoodgeneral]

Fair enough. I never expected my comment would get thumbs up and hers "censored." Frankly that makes me rather uncomfortable! Also fuck the professors! This performance just feels *right.*

[@cynic150]

This was extremely agite, perhaps a little over the top for me. But excellent playing all the same. Bravo!

[@yifuhood]

hagen guartet, cannt be better

[@musicmann008]

Kinda reminds me of Stravinsky

[@JBguitar-cj8pc]

Escape from Pompeii

[@thegoodgeneral]

@taketake20000001 私も！

[@upi95]

Its so fast, that the poor 1st Violin bow is losing hairs !

[@rgerber]

So... does complicated music equal good music?

[@user-og6ol2im7v]

I'd say no. But.. does complicated music equals bad music? Maybe complexity and quality are two indepedent factors?

[@vidcatchacomgoo]

+rgerber The same reason a painting with different colors and shapes is more interesting (and I would argue better) than a canvas filled in with only a single color. Complexity is positively correlated with beauty up to a certain point.

[@MattMinecraft4]

Complexity and virtuosity shouldn't necessarily interfere. Oftentimes people forget about the simplicity of music, and are too focused on the virtuosity of it.

[@bmort1313]

It's the complication that the composer decides to embed within the structure, symbolism, and trajectory that determines a masterpiece from a mediocre piece. So, in a way, yes. If by complicated you mean "hard to play", no.

[@gabrielzygel1539]

Let's not forget that simplicity is the most complex thing to achieve. Listen to Bill Evans, for example "Like Someone In Love". There's not a single unnecessary note. And it's so beautiful.

[@florisv559]

Very good rendering, but the Orlando Quartet did better - they gave it a haunting quality, filled with longing, that is missing here.

[@musicmann008]

no

[@thegoodgeneral]

@Xaraxass Thanks for your comment. You're a fucking moron.

[@mati357]

No, he's right, it's brilliant but a bit too fast - just like 1st movement is. It depends on taste, but every professor in France would tell you that. Truth is always between :)