Vagn Holmboe’s 20 mature string quartets comprise an extremely important and musically worthwhile 20th century contribution to the genre, worthy to stand beside those of Bartók and Shostakovich. This fourth volume in the Kontra Quartet’s ongoing series is as fine as its predecessors, and features three quartets composed in the period 1969- 1973. The Tenth Quartet, at 25 minutes long, is one of Holmboe’s largest, and its two highly contrasted movements recall the formal layout of Nielsen’s Fifth Symphony. The Eleventh is a genial, four-movement piece with a strong neo-classical feel and some bracing, folk-influenced tunes. Quartet No. 12 adopts a Bartókian five-movement “arch” form: the quick outer movements frame two slow movements, which in turn enclose the very fast central scherzo. This is terrific quartet writing. Even when the thematic material is not especially memorable by itself, Holmboe always maintains a strong current of musical development anchored by a flexible but definite sense of tonality. For the modern chamber music fancier there is no more rewarding series of discs currently available, and the excellence of the performances ensures that each work makes the most favorable possible impression. [11/11/1999]
