R. Murray Schafer

Two pieces by Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer get their New York premiere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBmbtr5Uw7I

Here’s a rave review of R. Murray Schafer’s string quartets by a blogging Florida composer and educator. I post it here because I’ve been listening to Schafer’s quartets — or the first seven of, I think, 10 now — since I heard the St. Lawrence Quartet play the extraordinary Quartet No. 3 a couple of weeks ago. Turns out they’re all extraordinary, pensive and passionate, bracingly modern but not devoid of sense for an ordinary listener. But if you’re like me, you mistrust a Canadian who tries to tell you Canadian music is good, so here’s an American, Jay Batzner:

I saw these guys tonight, with guests, which is almost always a good thing because when friends come onstage musicians are reminded that this line of work is supposed to be about pleasure and joy. Although apparently the St. Lawrence don’t need reminding.