Hummel, Bertold: String Quartet No. 1

In his first string quartet, the 26-year-old Bertold Hummel (1925-2002) already reveals himself to be an innovative musician who knows how to express vitality and passion in elaborately textured movements. His youthful enthusiasm for Hindemith and Bartók shows clearly in the four movements (Allegro - Andante religioso - Scherzo - Finale). Variable metres, dance fragments, and, above all, the Gregorian chorale in the second movement, however, already point to his later major works. As a cellist, he knows the different playing characteristics of the string instruments extremely well and uses them effectively in this accelerando piece. The thoroughly researched edition of Simrock will be a real discovery to curious chamber musicans and concert organizers.