The Edinburgh Quartet concert last night was most entertaining. I made my way into town by car, listening to the only Stockhausen CD I have, “Seven Days”.
The evening opened with a Xenakis quartet, which, like all the pieces, played (and the Stockhausen CD), had no discernible tune. Nonetheless I found it spellbinding, in the same way as a King Crimson improv. James Clapperton stepped up for the second piece, and proceeded to offer us a quite bewildering display of dexterity on the Steinway in performing a solo piece, again by Xenakis. Last piece before the break was the first of two piano quintets, this one written by Robert Crawford. Less challenging than the earlier Xenakis quartet, but excellent nonetheless, over the duration of the 15 minute piece the quartet almost imperceptibly slowed and quietened its way to a moving end.
On completion of the piece, Crawford joined the five musicians to take a well-deserved bow – he’d been commissioned to write the piece in honour of his upcoming 80th birthday.
The second half opened with an earlier quartet by Crawford, which I preferred to the more recent piece, which isn’t to say the latter was lacking in any way. The lead violinist of the quartet then played us two capriccios written by Clapperton, which demonstrated both men’s respective virtuosity, in playing and writing respectively. And finally, a second piano quintet, this time by Xenakis, closed the evening.
All in all very enjoyable added to by the excellent company of Mr Phil Weitzen and a free glass of wine and some birthday cake in honour of Mr Crawford’s eightieth. I gave Phil a lift home during which we enjoyed the sounds of Stockhausen once more – a fitting end to an evening without melody!!
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