Haydn String Quartet in B-flat Major, Opus 1, No.1 "'La Chasse" (1760)

F. Joseph Haydn, known by many as the father of the symphony and the string quartet wrote a mind-boggling eighty-three string quartets in his life time. This quartet nicknamed "La Chasse" ("the hunt") was a part of six quartets written in 1760 that followed a non-traditional classical quartet form containing five movements instead of the usual four. A palindrome, this quartet includes two outer presto and two Menuetto movements on either side of an Adagio. Consistent with many of Haydn's other string quartets, the first violin is strongly featured with fast melismas, high register playing and much of the time, the melody

Haydn was a prolific composer and so with the volume of works being so many, the cataloging of his music has been the object of considerable scholarship. This task was begun in 1766 by Haydn himself who later was aided by Prince Esterhazy's court copyist. Haydn worked on the list unti11805 only four years before his death, and thus the list has been revised and reworked numerous times ever since. Another fine composer of string quartets, the famed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, wrote `2t was a duty that I owed to Haydn to dedicate my quartets to him; for it was from him that I learned how to write quartets." Thus in 1782-1783 the six "Haydn"string quartets were composed by Mozart, dedicated to Haydn and a dynamic bond was formed. Fascinatingly enough, these six quartets were first performed with Haydn on first violin, and Mozart on viola. There was a strong mutual admiration between Haydn, the teacher and Mozart, the pupil as evidenced by frequent quotes found in both composers music of the other. This is found true in the third movement of "La Chasse" where the melody is a direct diminutive form from Mozart's Divertimento #1.

One may find it quite interesting to know that this first quartet was written when Haydn was 30 years old, when compared to many composers during his time was a rather .late start to composing. This did not deter him, however, for it is almost unfathomable to learn that Haydn wrote eighty-three quartets amongst many other compositions over a span of 49 years.

Hailstork String Quartet No.1 (2002)

Dr. Adolphus Hailstork, the internationally acclaimed composer, is a New York state native who now resides in Hampton Roads as the Eminent Scholar and Professor of Music at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. His String Quartet No. 1 was finished in March 2002 as one of a set of new works dedicated to the Virginia Chamber Players. Hailstork writes about his piece that," All of the material of the work was derived from the melody of the second movement." All four movements have a thick, unifying soul and rhythmic character that is weaved throughout. In the first movement, there is a real feeling of forward motion propelled by rapid meter changes and driving sixteenth notes. The beauty in the second movement is found in rich, sweet chords and tender, subtle changing harmonies that bring the listener to a peaceful completion. The Trio in the third movement, "tries to be mellow, but is constantly interrupted by sudden bursts of energy which ultimately takes off into a singing part of a tune from a famous Broadway Musical" says Hailstork. The Finale contains a dialogue between the two violins, hysterical viola outbursts, a freight train cello and finally an exciting drive to the finish with a fragment of the theme which opened movement one.

Tchaikovsky String Quartet in D Major Opus 11, No.1 (1871)

Piotr I. Tchaikovsky, the well-known romantic Russian composer of works such as the Nutcracker, Rococo Variations and Swan Lake surprisingly only composed three quartets in his lifetime. His first string quartet, written in 1871 was one of Tchaikovsky's earlier works, yet was written when he was 31 years old. Unbeknownst to many, this piece was given the subtitle "The Accordion" which can be best heard in the breathy, seamless rising and falling of the opening chords in the first movement. This work is probably best recognized for it's beautiful, tender second movement; the famed Andante Cantabile. Often played separately, this movement displays Tchaikovsky's true passionate nature in the simple, prayer-like melody heard by the first violin. In this popular movement, the composer acquires rich colors and textures through muted strings and spinning counter-melodies in the inner voices all leading to the breathtaking "amen" heard at the end. Tchaikovsky is known for his use of folk melodies which can be heard in the robust third movement and the dance-like rhythms in the fourth movement. The third movement makes use of a lopsided peasant dance heard exaggerated by displaced accents in the scherzo and strong syncopated rhythms in the trio. In the fourth movement, a much more lighthearted dance is heard with frequently accented outbursts by all and a driven heart-racing climax.

Despite the beauty and tenderness in much of his music, it was well-known that Tchaikovsky was a troubled man. Doubly afflicted with violent bouts of depression and repressed homosexual tendencies, Tchaikovsky often tended to compose with "emotional fervor directed towards the heart rather than to the head." In 1893 (the year he died) he wrote his well-known sixth symphony, a reworking of two previous incomplete symphonies. Tchaikovsky was confident that it was his best work, however it proved only mildly successful. Four days after the first performance he fell ill, drank a large glass of unboiled water and developed cholera which led to his death. Some feel this was a deliberate depression-driven act.

*Notes provided by Jennifer Snyder and Rebecca Gilmore Shoup*

Ambrosia Quartet

      Formed by members of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in 2002, the Ambrosia Quartet gave its debut performance, a concert of the first quartets written by several composers, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Norfolk. While expanding its repertoire in several directions, it has begun a cycle of the quartets of Shostakovich as the 2006 centennial anniversary of his birth approaches.

      The four members of the quartet all began playing their instruments at very young ages, leading to formal study and degrees at this impressive list of institutions: the Shanghai Conservatory, Indiana University, Ohio State University, the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, the Interlochen Arts Academy and Rice University. This experience is now being passed on to students at the Academy of Music in Norfolk, Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University and the Governor's School for the Arts.

      With extensive performance experience in Europe, Asia and the United States, the members of the Ambrosia Quartet now hold positions of leadership in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra: associate concertmaster, assistant principal second violin, and assistant principal viola.