Rebecca Clarke worked in the string quartet medium over virtually the whole of her long life, either as a performer, a composer, or a teacher. The two movements published here are Clarke's only known 'pure' music (music that 'means only itself', as she put it) for string quartet.
Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979)
"The first movement, 'Comodo e amabile', is fluid and sensuous, drawing similarities with the first movement of Debussy's String Quartet. The harmonies are largely modal and the interplay between the parts, rhythmical and harmonically, is beautifully crafted. There are no truly 'scary' moments for any player, from the technical point of view - just a few enharmonic changes in tonality to be aware of . . . A look at the score reveals how amazingly balanced and expansive Clarke's writing is. The individual parts have been thoughtfully and painstakingly edited and a clearly presented score is included. These two movements are a welcome addition to the string quartet repertoire. I think students would find them accessible and rewarding." - Kay Tucker, ESTA New and Views March 06
