CD REVIEW: Ben Johnston: String Quartets 1, 5, 10
Kepler Quartet
New World Records 80693-2; CD.
The New York Times, February 20, 2011
Amazon / Ariama / ArkivMusic / Forced Exposure / H&B Recordings Direct
A review of the second volume in an invaluable series devoted to the complete string quartets of Ben Johnston, an amazing, undersung American maverick who's passed through neo-Classical and serialist phases on his path toward microtonality, just intonation and an entirely original voice.
You can read more about Johnston and these specific pieces on the New World site, and about the Kepler Quartet, the outstanding ensemble behind this important series, on the group's homepage. You'll find my Time Out New York review of the previous installment — String Quartets Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 9, issued in 2006 — right here.
With luck, it won't take another five years to see the Keplers cross the finish line. Meanwhile, if you're intrigued and have some time on your hands, here's a lengthy video in which Johnston explains his work and influences, in particular Harry Partch, during a lecture at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, date unknown.
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