Presents
Nancy Dalberg
String Quartet No.3, Op.20
Nancy Dalberg (1881-1949) grew up on the Danish island of Funen (Fyn) where she leaned to play the piano. Her father, a well-off industrialist, refused her wish to study at the Royal Conservatory in Copenhagen and in the end she took private composition lessons from Johan Svendsen, Fini Henriques and Carl Nielsen. She was the first Danish woman composer to write a symphony. It was premiered to critical acclaim although it was noted with surprise and perhaps a touch of condescension that Dalberg was a woman
Her String Quartet No.3 is an advance on No.2 though entirely tonal, it is not in a defined key. It was composed in 1927 and dedicated to Carl Nielsen, the most influential of her several techers. The work is tightly written, polytonal and to some extent showing the influence of Bartok and Kodaly. The opening movement, Allegro con passione, breaks out of the gate in a powerful, terse manner, thrusting forward with great energy. The middle middle movement, Allegretto simplice, has a yearning, sad, searching quality. The finale, Tempo giusto, is restless and characterized by continous downward spires of chromatic runs.
This is a important modern work which certainly belongs in the concert hall. It can also be recommended to experienced amateur players of a high standard .
Parts $24.95
Parts & Score: $34.95
