4th movement, Presto Scherzo
We have chosen 'scientists' as the jumping off point for this concert although this has not been interpreted too rigidly. However, as usual we will start with Haydn. This has nothing to do with the theme of the concert and everything to do with the fact that he wrote astonishing, vibrant, witty music of which this is an excellent example.
The Opus 20 quartets (sometimes known as the 'Sun' quartets after an illustration found on the cover of early printed editions) were composed in 1772 in the middle of Haydn's life and show a much more sophisticated interplay between the four voices than any of his earlier works.
1st movement, Allegro Moderato
Borodin was a chemist, musician, physician and educator. As an organic chemist he was notable, even famous, in his own lifetime - he called himself a "Sunday composer" but was recognised as one of the mighty handful of Russians.
And as if that wasn't enough he was a outstandingly decent human being, taking in stray cats and people alike. Rimsky Korsakov, who was one of the strays Borodin took in, wrote:
"(Borodin's house)…was often used as a shelter or a night’s lodging by various poor (or ‘visiting’) relations, who picked that place to fall ill or even lose their minds. Borodin had his hands full of them, doctored them, took them to hospitals… In the four rooms of his apartment there often slept several strange persons of this sort – sofas and floors were turned into beds."
He was a popular lecturer and researcher who, in 1872, established a medical school for women. Even today in Russia, and throughout the former Soviet Union, women form a high percentage of doctors and surgeons; a fact that can be traced directly back to Borodin and Ekaterina Protopova his wife who was a gifted pianist and early campaigner for womens rights.
The string quartets are among his best known works and the movement we have chosen to play shows Borodin at his most lyrical.
2nd movement
Frederick William Herschel (he used the Anglicised version of his name for all his professional life) was born in 1738 in the Electorate of Hannover which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire, now Germany. After serving as a soldier he came to Britain at the age of 19 as a musician, which was the family business.
He was very successful as a composer and conductor in London, Sunderland and later Bath where he settled and lived with his sister. A large amount of Herschel's music survives but is rarely played, so this is a good excuse.
He later became one of the most famous astronomers and telescope makers of his age. In partnership with his equally brilliant and multi-talented sister, Caroline, he made dozens of key contributions to our understanding of the stars and planets. The story of Caroline's own dedication and contributions to astronomy, including founding the NGC star catalogue still in use today, has to wait for another opportunity to be told.
Two movements from String Quartet
This piece was written in 2007 and was originally conceived as a Divertimento for String Orchestra. The current arrangement for string quartet was made a few years ago in four movements of which the two central movements will be performed today.
The slow Adagio movement is in ABA form. The main theme is heard, harmonised in the violins over a pizzicato viola figure and a throbbing motif on the cello, before the viola joins the violins in the final phrase. The central section has the theme in the second violin, under decorative semiquavers in the 1st and a light pizzicato accompaniment from the others, building to a climax before recapitulating the opening section.
The other movement is in the nature of a wild dance, again in ABA form and in fast triple time. It is characterised by syncopated and snappy rhythms, with folk-like drones and dissonances, reminiscent of Bartok.
2nd movement, Piacevole (poco andante)
Elgar was an amateur chemist and an enthusiast for all things technological, which is why there are so many early recordings of him conducting.
Like so many great chamber works this quartet was written late in the composers life. He had tried to write a string quartet much earlier in his career, he even gave the unfinished work an opus number, but he destroyed the score. He later made several other starts, putting one aside to work on his First Symphony. As a result the quartet came to nothing.
This quartet originated from a request by Carl Fuchs, cellist of the Brodsky Quartet and professor at the Royal Manchester College of Music. In February 1900, Elgar and his wife attended a performance of the Enigma Variations in Manchester, conducted by Hans Richter. At supper after the concert Richter introduced Elgar to Adolph Brodsky and his wife, and to Carl Fuchs. Fuchs then asked Elgar to compose a quartet for them.
The movement is marked Piacevole meaning pleasant or agreeable, but this doesn't do justice to the sense of calm, and of spiritual warmth evoked by the writing.