THE AMERICAN STRING PROJECT

• Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No.3 - IV. Finale

“The arrangements are very good. The addition of bass to the four parts is quite effective, resulting in a sound that is deep but not heavy. Some lines are given to soloists rather than sections, and some passages are written for just quartet, no doubling. All of this works very well... this is a rich sound”

Pagel, American Record Guide [January/February 2015]

“[ * * * * ] The American String Project is a crackerjack band with plenty of chops and a remarkable tonal allure...The interpretations (conductorless) are quite apt and stylish, and from that standpoint everything goes along quite nicely. The Haydn really caught my attention...Those who enjoy this type of presentation have no need to hesitate.”

Steven Ritter, Audiophile Audition [September 2014]

The first board meeting of The American String Project took place on September 11, 2001. On that auspicious day in history to be sure, our newly elected Board of Directors made a firm decision that our scheduled meeting would be held as planned in spite of the worldchanging events.

Our first concerts were given in May 2002 and featured groundbreaking arrangements of the Ravel Quartet and the Dvorák “American” Quartet among other works. The concerts were met with superlative reviews. Our final concerts took place in May 2011. This disc comprises performances from those concerts. Perhaps in an effort to come “full circle”, one of the works on this CD is the Haydn Quartet Op. 76 No. 2, which was the first work ever rehearsed and performed by the Project. Also included is the performance of the Tchaikovsky Quartet, Op. 30, which proved to be one of the most difficult and challenging works we have done since 2002.

In our seasons from 2002 to 2011, we have performed transcriptions of more than 100 string quartets and quintets, as well as the majority of the significant string orchestra pieces in the standard repertory. Now, in 2014, we continue with the next phase of the Project, which encompasses educational endeavors as well as chamber music performances.

As the founder of The American String Project, I am happy to report that across these years I have satisfied my desire to perform so many string quartets and quintets with an ensemble made up of friends and colleagues. I hope you enjoy hearing the music on this disc as much as we have enjoyed performing it. [Barry Lieberman, April 2014]


PERSONNEL
The American String Project - May 2011
VIOLIN
Joan Blackman
Associate Concertmaster, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Emmanuelle Boisvert
Concertmaster, Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Andres Cardenes
Former Concertmaster, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Professor of Violin, Carnegie Mellon University

Stephanie Chase
Violin Soloist
Artistic Director, Music of the Spheres

Jorja Fleezanis
Former Concertmaster, Minnesota Orchestra
Professor of Violin, Indiana University

Yoko Fujita
New European Strings

Timothy Garland
First Violin, Seattle Symphony

Maria Larionoff
Concertmaster, Seattle Symphony
Artistic Director, The American String Project

Harumi Rhodes
Violin and Founding Member, Trio Cavatina

VIOLA
David Harding
Professor of Viola, Carnegie Mellon University
Professor of Viola, University of British Columbia

James VanValkenburg
Assistant Principal Viola, Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Steve Wyrczynski
Former Member, The Philadelphia Orchestra
Professor of Viola, Indiana University

VIOLONCELLO
Stephen Balderston
Former Assistant Principal Cello, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Professor of Cello, De Paul University

Ani Kalayjian
Cello soloist

DOUBLE BASS
Barry Lieberman
Former Associate Principal Bass, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Professor of Double Bass, University of Washington
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
STRING QUARTET NO.3 IN E-FLAT MINOR, OP.30
Andante sostenuto – Allegro moderato
Allegretto vivo e scherzando
Andante funebre e doloroso, ma con moto
Finale: Allegro non troppo e risloluto

Jorja Fleezanis, Leader | Andres Cardennes, principal second violin
David Harding, principal viola | Stephen Balderston, principal cello
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN (1732-1809)
STRING QUARTET NO.61 IN D MINOR, OP.76 NO.2 “QUINTEN” (“FIFTHS”)
Allegro
Andante o più tosto allegretto
Menuetto: Allegro ma non troppo
Finale: Vivace assai

Maria Larionoff, Leader | Joan Blackman, principal second violin
Mara Gearman, principal viola | Ani Kalayjian, principal cello

ENCORE MOVEMENTS
EDVARD GRIEG (1843-1907)
HOLBERG SUITE, OP.40 – IV. Air (Andante religioso)

Emmanuelle Boisvert, Leader

JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833-1897)
STRING QUARTET NO.3 IN B-FLAT MAJOR OP.67 – III. Agitato (Allegretto non troppo)

Stephanie Chase, Leader | James VanValkenburg, principal viola

DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
STRING QUARTET NO.3 IN F MAJOR, OP.73 – III. Allegro non troppo

Joan Blackman, Leader




MSR Classics