Busch Quartet

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The Busch Quartet was a string quartet . It was founded in 1913 and dissolved again in 1952. Adolf Busch on the 1st violin , a brother of the conductor Fritz Busch , was the only one who belonged to this formation throughout the 39 years of its existence. There were numerous changes at the other desks: Fritz Rothschild (1913), Karl Reitz (1919–21), Gösta Andreasson (1921–45), Ernest Drucker (1946) and Bruno Straumann (1946–52) played the 2nd violin . The viola was played by Karl Doktor (1913), Emil Bohnke (1919–21), again Karl Doktor (1921–45) and Hugo Gottesmann (1946–52). The cello played Paul Grümmer (1913-30) and Hermann Busch (1930-52).

The ensemble initially called itself the Konzertvereinsquartett , since all members belonged to the Konzertverein orchestra. The then chief conductor Ferdinand Löwe had suggested the formation of the quartet. The quartet was dissolved at the beginning of the First World War, probably due to the war, and only re-established in 1919 under the name Busch Quartet. In the period between World War I and World War II, the quartet developed extensive recording and concert activities. After the National Socialists came to power in the German Reich in 1933, Adolf and Herrmann Busch emigrated to Switzerland, then to the USA in 1939, followed by the other members of the quartet. In 1945 the quartet was dissolved due to Karl Doctor's illness and Gösta Andreasson's overuse, but was re-founded in 1946. In 1952 the quartet was finally dissolved due to the death of Adolf Busch.

The Busch Quartet was one of the most important and influential quartet associations of the first half of the 20th century. It shaped quartet playing with its sleek, modern playing, but above all with its records, similar to Artur Schnabel playing the piano. The quartet's chamber music partner was not Artur Schnabel, but Rudolf Serkin , who like the Busch Quartet had his artistic origin in the circle around Max Reger .

Recordings

  • Johannes Brahms
    • Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115; incorporated October 10, 1937 (EMI 2EA 5488-95; DB 3383-6); with Reginald Kell
    • Piano Quintet in F minor op. 34; incorporated October 13, 1938 (EMI 2EA 6735-44; HMV 3694-8); with Rudolf Serkin
    • Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25; incorporated May 25 & 26, 1949 (CAX 10520-29; LX 1217-21); with Rudolf Serkin
    • Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26; recorded September 21, 1921 (EMI 2B 3876-83; HMV DB 1849-52)
    • String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1; recorded September 19 & September 23, 1932 (EMI 2B 3858-65; DB 1807-10)
    • String Quartet No. 3 in B flat major op. 67; recorded May 17 & May 21, 1949 (CAX 10511-19; LX 1262-5 & LXS 1266)
  • Franz Schubert
    • String Quartet in B flat major, D 112; recorded May 5, 1931 (EMI 2EA 7103-6 / 7210-11; HMV DB 3737-9)
    • String Quartet in D minor, D 810 “Death and the Maiden”; recorded October 16, 1936 (EMI 2EA 3792-9; HMV DB 3037-40)
    • String Quartet in G major, D 887; included November 22nd & 30th 1936 (EMI 2EA 7128-37; HMV DB 3744-48)
  • In addition to the studio recordings mentioned, there are some live recordings

Web links

Commons : Busch Quartet  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

swell

  • Lexicon of Classical Music in the 20th Century , Kassel 1992
  • Texts accompanying CDs (EMI CDH 7 64932 2; CDH 7 64702 2; CDH 5 651902; CDH 7 69795 2 and CHS 5 65308 2)