Silesian String Quartet and Guests / Fourth Concert in the Series: Alexandre Tansman in France - NOSPR

The Silesian String Quartet first encountered the music of Alexandre Tansman at the very beginning of its artistic journey. In their own concert series, the musicians return to the work of a composer who has remained an important source of inspiration. The concerts under the title Alexandre Tansman in France form a coherent portrait of the Łódź-born composer who found his artistic home among the Parisian intellectual circles of the early 20th century. Together with invited guests, the Silesian String Quartet reveals the richness of Tansman’s chamber music while exploring the work of other composers from his French circle.

The fourth concert in the series places Tansman’s works in the context of the French musical tradition. String Quartet No. 6 ranks among the finest examples of the genre in the composer’s output. Its intensely lyrical character is further enhanced by the Lento, which returns like a refrain. Sonatina da camerafor flute, harp and string trio belongs to Tansman's mature period, with its economy of means, rhythmic vitality and clear-cut expression drawing particular attention.

Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur employs a similar instrumental ensemble in his Suite médiévale. Fascinated by early music, the 20th-century French composer drew inspiration from Gregorian chant, folk music, and the French classical tradition of the 17th and 18th centuries. The harp also plays a central role in Claude Debussy’s Danse sacrée et danse profane. The work was commissioned by the Pleyel company to demonstrate the possibilities of its latest innovation, the chromatic harp. Although the instrument itself eventually disappeared from the concert stage, the composition remained in the repertoire and continues to captivate audiences with its subtle, shimmering colours.

Julia Broniowska / NOSPR

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