Stanford- String Quartets Nos.1 and 2

Think of Stanford and the genre of the string quartet probably won't come to mind. But he composed no fewer than eight such works over a twenty-eight year period, inspired by his friendship with the great violinist Joseph Joachim. The first two quartets are serious, big-boned works that show Stanford's mastery of the idiom. On this mid-priced Helios series reissue, the RTE Vanbrugh Quartet plays with a rare sensitivity and a natural eloquence. Also included is the Horn Fantasy - a dramatic, compelling and flawlessly written work (possibly composed as a tribute to Mozart), superbly played by Stephen Stirling.