Ades/Norgard/Abrahamsen

Rune Tonsgaard Sorensen: violin
Frederik Oland: violin
Asbjorn Norgaard: viola
Fredrik Schoyen Sjolin: violoncello

The Danish String Quartet, one of the most widely-acclaimed chamber groups of the present moment, makes its ECM debut playing a program of British and Danish music: Thomas Adess Arcadiana (composed 1994), Per Norgards Quartetto Breve (1952), and Hans Abrahamsens 10 Preludes (1973).

The pieces were all written when the respective composers were each barely into their 20s, and have a freshness and intensity vividly conveyed in the DSQs interpretations.

Arcadia has no national boundaries, writes Paul Griffiths in the liner notes. We may feel that the precision of nuance, the warm and intelligent closeness of voices and the command of form these Danish musicians bring to Abrahamsen as to Norgard comes from some common heritage or sympathy, and yet the same fine qualities shine through their performance of the Ades piece.

The album was recorded in May 2015 at Reitstadel Neumarkt and produced by Manfred Eicher.