Emerson String Quartet - Meyer: Quintet / Rorem: Quartet (2003)

Edgar Meyer may not be a name on the lips of many classical music fans, but it should be. This soft-spoken composer and soloist with the double bass has a unique voice that capture much of the flavor of the Copland/Whitman/Ives/Faulkner view of the American sound. He is an accomplished soloist of a difficult instrument and has written a rather large body of work that incorporates the instrument he knows thoroughly.

The Quintet on this recording is an especially fine example of his creativity. Scored for string quartet with double bass the piece is at once plangenty beautiful in melody and complexly interesting in harmony. The Emerson Quartet is joined by Meyer himself for this performance and together they make a true cause for the potential repertoire populariety of this work (it would make a fine accompaniment with the 'Trout Quintet' Schubert!).

The Quartet by Ned Rorem is often played but rarely as well as the Emerson Quartet performs it here. Rorem is better know for his vocal songs than his instrumental writings, but this survey of his Quartet No. 4 should stir imaginations to explore his other chamber works.

In all, this excellent recording is a ray of very bright light from two gifted composers, and hearing the Meyer will doubtless lead the listener to seek out his many recordings of his works, including the much lauded 'Appalachia Waltz' with Yo-Yo Ma! Highly recommended.