For A level music, i need to compare 2 similiar pieces which are written 100 yearss apart

I want to do string quartets. I have chosen Mozart's Prussian Quartet k575 from the classical period.

Does anyone know of any other quartets that i would like - preferably contemporary pieces, or romantic

(just string quartet pieces only)

The Dvorak American Quartet no.12 in F major op.96 is good

Pity you can't choose the Mendelssohn Octet - my absolute favourite. I just need to find seven friends.....

If you want something contemporary, have a look at any Kronos quartet recording. Almost everything they play is commissioned by them.

Ravel wrote a good one. There's one by Rimsky Korsakov which isn't so well known, could be interesting.

How about either Debussy String Quartet No1 or Ravel String Quartet. Debussy nearly bang on 100 years after the Mozart "Prussian" I should think, Ravel a bit later. Both great pieces - get a taste of them here :-


http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.550249

edit Boogiecat beat me to it on the Ravel. Great Minds and all that....

Dont forget Borodin, particularly the famous one

The Ravel and the Debussy are both wonderful (the Ravel is one of my favourites )

I've chosen the following pieces:

Mozart's Prussian Quartet k575
Dvorak String Quartet 12 "American"


Now i need to find some information on these pieces but it's really hard. I know that the prussian quartets were written for the King of Prussia who was a cellist, therefore the cello part is quite prominent.

I was trying to look for music critiques, but dont know where to look. "i.e. when you get those long descriptions about pieces in performance programmes".....anyone know where i can get these from?

Or does anyone reccomend any books....but i specifically need information thats relevant to these pieces, and i dont need to know too much about the composer's life and all that other rubbish...

Thanks

Do you have access to Grove? That's usually a good starting point . My school used to have a copy in the library. It won't have lots of specifics on the pieces but you need to know where they sit in the composers' œuvre, otherwise you might find yourself doing the equivalent of writing about Mozart's K310 without knowing his mother had just died....

I second nic's comment ckeck out the Kronos quartet. Their CD of Glass's quartet is terrific.

Jon