DESCRIPTION:
Michael Tippett's love for the string quartet stemmed from his obsession with Beethoven's string quartets; indeed, in all of his quartets, Tippett emulates Beethoven in both form and expressivity. The opening movement of Tippett's String Quartet No. 1 (1935) is in sonata-allegro form; its two main themes each end with a cello solo. The solo at the end of the first movement leads directly into the lyricism of the second, wherein all four instruments engage in a Romantic fantasy. The third movement, a fugue, begins with the subject stated in octaves. The first episode is carried by a solo violin; eventually, the texture thickens to encompass all four players. The work's rhythmic vitality is a hallmark of Tippett's style, as is the profusion of counterpoint.
The first version of the String Quartet No. 1 was first performed by the Brosa Quartet in 1935; the revised, final version, was premiered by the Zorian Quartet in 1943. The quartet is dedicated to Wilfred Franks.

Quartet Pro Musica is unique in London and UK chamber music circles, having formed in 1955, and still going strong in 2015. Pat Halling, the quartet leader throughout, was among a generation of string players who passed through the Royal Academy of Music in the late 1940’s. As the Guardian’s Anne Inglis recently wrote “…these were string players with extraordinary technical assurance, rigorously trained in the old school…”.

The quartet’s original players, all former students at the Royal Academy of Music, were Pat, his brother, Peter Halling, Roger Raphael and Peter Sermon. Michael Tippett, amongst others, coached the quartet in these early days.

In 1957-8, a change of personnel resulted in Ernest Scott and Gwynne Edwards joining the quartet. This was a formidable line-up of chamber music talent. Over the ensuing years Pro Musica were involved in many highly acclaimed recordings for the BBC, whilst also touring extensively around the country.

Along the way there have been other changes. The current players, the ever-present Pat Halling, Keith Lewis, Ariane Alexander and Myrtle Bruce-Mitford, continue to play a wide repertoire, continuing the quartet's fine tradition spanning over 50 years.

Contact details: promusica.sec@gmail.com // www.quartetpromusica.co.uk

Quartet Pro Musica Recording 2015.3 / Tippett / String Quartet No 1 / 1958 / BBC / Pat Halling, Roger Raphael, Peter Sermon, Peter Halling.