Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student worker Madeline (class of 2019) and features the Hollywood String Quartet’s 1958 recording of works by Zoltán Kodály, Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák. Thanks, Madeline!
This CD is perfect for those who enjoy string instruments and/or Central European music. Kodály is Hungarian, while both Smetana and Dvořák are Czech. All three of the works have an overall lively and lighthearted sound. It is intricate enough to serve as training for active listening, but also pleasing to listen to in your free time.
Of particular interest is the last piece, String Quartet No. 12, “American” by Dvořák, which was written during his time in the United States. His works during this time were greatly influenced by both Native American folk music and contemporary works of African Americans and other immigrants. His most famous piece, Symphony No. 9, From the New World was written during this period. The musicians of this recording, the Hollywood String Quartet, are considered to be the first American based classical group to have an international reputation. They accompanied pop singers in the mid-1900s, most notably Frank Sinatra. Fans of older movies may also recognize their work in cinema. Before HSQ was formed, many of the members provided the orchestral soundtrack for early 1900s Hollywood movies, hence the name of the group.
