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Discussion: Shostakovich/Schnittke - Moscow Chamber Orchestra/Orbelian

Posts: 3

Post by Beagle February 3, 2007 (1 of 3)
Rudolf Barshai, violist in the Borodin Quartet, transcribed Shostakovich's Quartet No. 8 for chamber orchestra with Dmitri's blessing and perhaps collaboration. Barshai had just founded the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and wanted some more contemporary repertoire.

Since elsewhere on the forum, I have several times seethed and pulled out hanks of hair over 'biggie-sizing' other quartets, allow me to confess that I dearly love this particular transcription. It is only a chamber orchestra and thus not too different from doubling up on the parts of a Vivaldi concerto, which can also be played one instrument to the part.

Post by raffells February 4, 2007 (2 of 3)
Beagle said:

Rudolf Barshai, violist in the Borodin Quartet, transcribed Shostakovich's Quartet No. 8 for chamber orchestra with Dmitri's blessing and perhaps collaboration. Barshai had just founded the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and wanted some more contemporary repertoire.

Since elsewhere on the forum, I have several times seethed and pulled out hanks of hair over 'biggie-sizing' other quartets, allow me to confess that I dearly love this particular transcription. It is only a chamber orchestra and thus not too different from doubling up on the parts of a Vivaldi concerto, which can also be played one instrument to the part.

Hi Beagle,Yes the subject of grossing up (my particular rather poor description) a piece of music can easily destroy the simple pleasure of listening to it...It Uusally loses more than it gains.It is also very difficult to put into words any gains and hence my description of reworking in this case there is a clear hand by the said Barshai who has done this to other pieces with great sucess.It also helps that the excellent recording makes it easy to digest..Maybe its the difference between a conducter getting his hands on the original piece or a person who is at heart a composer as well as a musician but that is another discussion?..Thinking back to all the upscaled versions of music Ive got on vinyl over 40 plus years of listening,I cannot rememeber any that I actually go back to listening to..Scoenbergs "Transfigured" is probably the only one I can remember..The sacds I bought have been moved on already..Though I was tempted by the Dvorak..and obviously Mahlers tinkering...Dave

Post by Beagle February 17, 2008 (3 of 3)
raffells said: Though I was tempted by the Dvorak..
Hi Dave,
I'm picking up this conversation where we left it more than a year ago -- hey, it's been a hectic year! But back to where we were: thanks for the review "just to make sure it gets 10 stars". I just moved this off the WishList to the OrderList, at a bargain price from an Amazon 'associate'. If it is the Schubert & Dvorak: Quartets (arr. strings) - RPO/Rosekrans which tempts you, maybe we should consider a trade?

Closed