Naxos is releasing a new CD, a second volume of string quartes by Quincy Porter, as recorded by the Ives Quartet.
The list of composers which proved so influential in mid-twentieth century America is a lengthy one: William Schuman, Aaron Copland, Roger Sessions, Leonard Bernstein, Howard Hanson, Roy Harris and Quincy Porter. Porter, an early member of the American Composers Alliance, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for his Concerto Concertante for two pianos and orchestra.
Porter’s orchestral music is marked by originality in its absorption of the neo-classicism first championed by Igor Stravinsky. However, his series of nine string quartets also represents an important contribution to the genre. The quartets on this disc are informed by Porter’s experiences as a professional string player in the 1920s, and are marked by his tonal yet dissonant and biting harmonies.
Scores for Quartets Nos. 5 and 7 are available for purchase from ACA.