Cage: The Complete String Quartets Vol. 2

Album Review

The second addition in this stunning series of string quartets performed by the Arditti Quartet in 1988, this series of works by the great American avant-garde composer are among the highest standards of production performance and interpretation of these complex and abstract string quartets. The late John Cage wrote for String Quartet throughout his entire career, and some of the works here date from as early as 1950 and as late as the year of the performance. These works were in a constant state of flux, and varied depending on the interpreters and revisions that the composer made to the works — however the aesthetic of his quartet composition is exemplified in his monumental piece "4," which is performed here beautifully by the Arditti Quartet. In the vast world of recorded John Cage music, the series published by Mode is among the best and is a recommended introduction into the world of the great composer and the history of avant-garde composition alike. This release contains extensive and highly informative notes and artwork by the composer.