Stenhammar: The String Quartets Stenhammar Quartet

• Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871 - 1927): String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 2:
• 1 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 2: I. Allegro 07:32
• 2 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 2: II. Mesto 09:17
• 3 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 2: III. Molto tranquillo e commodo 06:19
• 4 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 2: IV. Allegro energico 09:12
• String Quartet No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 14:
• 5 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 14: I. Allegro moderato 07:01
• 6 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 14: II. Andante quasi adagio 07:00
• 7 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 14: III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace 06:33
• 8 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 14: IV. Finale. Allegro energico e serioso 07:55
• String Quartet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 25:
• 9 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 25: I. Allegro ma non troppo 09:14
• 10 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 25: II. Adagio 06:01
• 11 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 25: III. Scherzo. Allegro 06:56
• 12 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 25: IV. Aria variata. Andante semplice 10:49
• Lodolezzi sjunger, Op. 39:
• 13 Stenhammar: Lodolezzi sjunger, Op. 39: I. Elegi. Lento 03:23
• 14 Stenhammar: Lodolezzi sjunger, Op. 39: II. Intermezzo. Allegro agitato 03:59
• String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 18:
• 15 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 18: I. Quasi andante 08:44
• 16 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 18: II. Presto molto agitato 05:08
• 17 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 18: III. Lento sostenuto 07:18
• 18 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 18: IV. Presto molto agitato 10:49
• String Quartet No. 5 in C Major, Op. 29 "Serenade":
• 19 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 5 in C Major, Op. 29 "Serenade": I. Allegro molto con spirito 05:13
• 20 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 5 in C Major, Op. 29 "Serenade": II. Ballata. Allegretto scherzando 07:29
• 21 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 5 in C Major, Op. 29 "Serenade": III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace 01:58
• 22 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 5 in C Major, Op. 29 "Serenade": IV. Finale. Allegro molto 04:15
• String Quartet in F Minor:
• 23 Stenhammar: String Quartet in F Minor: I. Allegro 06:14
• 24 Stenhammar: String Quartet in F Minor: II. Adagio. Con intimissimo sentimento, poco scherzando 06:29
• 25 Stenhammar: String Quartet in F Minor: III. Allegro giocoso 03:52
• 26 Stenhammar: String Quartet in F Minor: IV. Allegretto 04:04
• String Quartet No. 6 in D minor, Op. 35:
• 27 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 6 in D minor, Op. 35: I. Tempo moderato, sempre un poco rubato 07:12
• 28 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 6 in D minor, Op. 35: II. Allegro vivace 02:44
• 29 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 6 in D minor, Op. 35: III. Poco adagio 08:08
• 30 Stenhammar: String Quartet No. 6 in D minor, Op. 35: IV. Presto 06:00
• Total Runtime 03:16:48

Info for Stenhammar: The String Quartets

Wilhelm Stenhammar was one of the most versatile Swedish composers of his generation. In addition to writing two operas, two symphonies and two piano concertos, he produced a large number of songs, piano music and a violin sonata. The string quartet genre is a central one in his œuvre. An important precondition for this was his long-standing collaboration with the violinist Tor Aulin and his string quartet, the Aulin Quartet, with which Stenhammar worked closely as a pianist. ‘The Aulins’ concerts in Stockholm’, Stenhammar wrote during the winter of 1896, ‘are an undertaking that is closer to my heart than any other of this kind, and it is no exaggeration if I say that I long for each new concert, and that it is a real sacrifice for me if I am forced to miss one of them. I don’t know if you understand this, but I believe that you will grasp my feelings when I say that for me that the Aulin Quartet is, and with every passing day becomes all the more, the incarnation of everything exalted that I know in the world of music – not ideal, I grant – but, perhaps even because of its imperfections, all the more cherishable. With every day, every hour that passes I feel more strongly that I would not voluntarily give this up, that it would be the last thing that I would abstain from. It has educated me, it has turned me into a musician, I need it and love it.’

Stenhammar Quartet:
Peter Olofsson, violin
Per Öman, violin
Tony Bauer, viola
Mats Olofsson, cello

Stenhammar Quartet
Since its establishment in 2002, the Stenhammar Quartet has become one of Scandinavia’s foremost string quartets. Swedish works play a central part in the ensemble’s programmes, but much attention is also paid to the Viennese Classical repertoire and to contem- porary music. The quartet regularly commissions works from Nordic composers such as Sven-David Sandström, Anders Hillborg and Bent Sörensen, and has also been the dedicatee and given the first performances of works by composers from the USA and Great Britain. The Stenhammar Quartet has recorded some forty works for Swedish Radio and has been praised by The Strad and The Guardian for its lyrical and exceptional recordings of Wilhelm Stenhammar’s string quartets (Bis) Their recording of Lars-Erik Larsson’s complete string quartets (Daphne) received a nomination for the Swedish Grammy awards as well as critical acclaim both in Swedish and international music magazines.

In 2009 the quartet made its London debut and was that same year featured on the French music channel Mezzo.

The Stenhammar Quartet is a regular guest at many Scandinavian festivals and has recently been invited to festivals in Poland, Algeria and India.

Booklet for Stenhammar: The String Quartets