Main content

Impassioned argument: Elizabeth Maconchy's string quartets

Tom Service surveys the 13 extraordinary string quartets of Elizabeth Maconchy - the greatest 20th-century British composer you've probably never heard of.

"For me, the best music is an impassioned argument". So said one of Britain's greatest 20th-century composers, Elizabeth Maconchy.

Who?? Despite her many awards and medals - including a damehood in 1987 - and a lifetime spent promoting new music, Elizabeth's work slipped out of fashion and out of view in the latter part of her remarkable career. With concertos and symphonies, vocal music, chamber works, five operas, an operetta and three ballets to her name, Elizabeth's voice is that of economy, elegance and rich expression. And it is in her century-spanning 13 string quartets that her development - and musical outlook - as an artist are most closely expressed.

With a cultural resurgence in all things mid-century, Tom Service chats to Janell Yeo of the Bloomsbury Quartet and considers whether the time is now ripe for a reclamation of Elizabeth's place at our musical top table.

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Fri 8 Mar 2024 16:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Songs of the Moon

Next

Needle Drop: the power of classical music in film

See all episodes from The Listening Service

Music Played

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 1, I. Allegro Feroce

    Performer: Hanson String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKP90802.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 13, I. Allegro Moderato

    Performer: Mistry String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKP90802.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 1, I Allegro Feroce

    Performer: Hanson String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKP90802.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 11

    Performer: Mistry String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKP90802.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    The Land

    Conductor: Odaline de la Martinez. Performer: ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Lorelt.
    • LNT133.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Proud Thames

    Conductor: Vernon Handley. Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Lyrita.
    • SRCD288.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 2, I. Molto Lento

    Performer: Hanson String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKP90802.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 2, IV. Allegro

    Performer: Hanson String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKP90802.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 9, IV. Allegro

    Performer: Allegri String Quartet.
    • Decca.
    • 485993.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 4, I. Allegro - Lento Appassionato - Allegro

    Performer: Hanson String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKP90802.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 4, IV. Presto

    Performer: Hanson String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKP90802.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 9, II. Scherzo - Trio: Presto

    Performer: Allegri String Quartet.
    • Decca.
    • 485993.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 8, I. Lento- Allegro Moderato, Vigoroso

    Performer: Bingham String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKPCD9080/2.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 8, III. Lento (Tempo Libero Senza Misura)

    Performer: Bingham String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKPCD9080/2.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 1, IV. Presto

    Performer: Hanson String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKPCD9080/2.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 11

    Performer: Mistry String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKPCD9080/2.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 13 'Quartetto Corto', II. Lento

    Performer: Mistry String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKPCD9080/2.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 13 'Quartetto Corto', III. Allegro Risoluto

    Performer: Mistry String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKPCD9080/2.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 13 'Quartetto Corto', III. Allegro Risoluto

    Performer: Mistry String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKPCD9080/2.

  • Elizabeth Maconchy

    Quartet no. 13 'Quartetto Corto', II. Lento

    Performer: Mistry String Quartet.
    • Unicorn-Kanchana.
    • DKPCD9080/2.

  • FrΓ©dΓ©ric Chopin

    Mazurka in F minor, Op 63 No 2

    Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • Argerich Plays Chopin.
    • Deutsche Grammaphon.
    • 6.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 3 Mar 2024 17:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Fri 8 Mar 2024 16:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

Why do we call it 'classical' music?

Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).

Six of the world's most extreme voices

From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How Schoenberg opened a new cosmos for composers and listeners to explore.

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Bass is everywhere, but why do we enjoy it? Join Tom Service on a journey of discovery.

Watch the animations

Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.

When does noise become music?

We like to think we can separate β€œnoise” from β€œmusic”, but is it that simple?

Podcast