Presents
Vissarion Shebalin
String Quartet No.7 in A flat Major, Op.41--New Edition
String Quartet No.7 in A flat Major, Op.41 was composed in 1948 and was dedicated to the Borodin Quartet which had worked hard to popularize the quartets of modern Russian composers, Shebalin and Shostakovich in particular. It is undeniable that no active Soviet composer was immune from the constant meddling of the Communist Party and Stalinist politics. Compositions which failed to please led to dire consequences. In 1948, nearly all of the leading Soviet composers, Shebalin included, were accused of being “Formalists” and were required to produce new compositions which showed they were capable of “improving themselves.” This generally meant the inclusion of folkloric elements. Shebalin who had always been interested in authentic folk music, had no trouble complying. The Seventh Quartet, in four compact movements, thus shows more interest in folk tunes than the Sixth did. The gentle Allegro moderato which opens the quartet is not overtly slavic, but the second theme clearly reveals its folk roots. The music is ingeniously presented and sounds entirely modern but has no strident elements which might have led to serious punishment. A sprightly Scherzo comes next. The music to the main section is bright, and the slower trio has a very Russian melody for its theme which is played against a lively harmonic background. It is superbly done. A sad Andante displays two attractive, lyrical melodies both Russian. The finale, Allegro assai, uses a traditional Russian wedding song for its main theme, but to non-Russian ears, its slavic origin is well-masked. This is an excellent work which will triumph on the concert stage and be treasured by amateur quartet players.
Writing of his visit to Shostakovich, the Polish composer Krzystztof Meyer said that in Shostakovich’s study he found pictures of only three composers: Mahler, Mussorgsky and Shebalin. Not only Shostakovich but most of Shebalin’s contemporaries regarded him as being in the front rank of composers from their generation. Vissarion Shebalin (1902-63) was born in Omsk, Siberia where he began his musical studies. Later at the Moscow Conservatory, he studied under Myaskovsky. During the 1920’s he was attracted by modernism, but during the 1930’s he was drawn to traditionalism with its attachment to folkloric melodies. By 1942, he was appointed director of the Moscow Conservatory. When Stalin came to power, Shebalin was forced, as were all of the other major Soviet composers, to find some sort of modus vivendi with Socialist Realism. Although his music is well-known within Russia, it is virtually never heard outside of it. Chamber music always interested Shebalin and constitutes a sizeable part of his output. His nine string quartets span the length of his entire career from student right up until his death. They are an important body of work which deserves to be better known and to be performed.
This is another important Soviet string quartet. Within Russia the quartets of Shebalin are held in the highest regard. It surprising that they have never made a mark abroad. This quartet deserves to be heard in concert but can be managed by amateurs as well.
Parts: $29.95
Parts & Score: $39.95
