This piece deserves its place as one of the classics of the repertoire. The dynamics are loud, and a feeling of measured chaos prevails. The music becomes very busy as they race through a passage. They drop the tempo and scurry about in all possible registers. A brief pause leads to a solo violin absolutely racing, then it is just two violins. The ensemble bring texture, and the cello creates a dramatic undercurrent. The final movement is at a rapid tempo, and some splendid violin interplay is developed. This is a movement of great contrast, and it is immensely rewarding. A pause leads to some fluttering violins which turn serious and the movement ends on a lone, but forceful, cello note. A fine ascending melody brings more intensity to the ensemble and the playing is now very strong. The rapid tempo violin returns as the ensemble continue at their moderate tempo. Gentle folk-like melodies are slowly brought into being and there is some interplay between the violins. Now a violin enters at a rapid tempo, overlaying the serious background. The fourth movement opens in a serious mood, briefly leading to a transcendent section. It has to be one of the loveliest adagios I have experienced. The cello now leads the piece and provides a longing, enchanting texture which leads to the conclusion. The cello introduces a new mood, with its rich sonorities providing a perfect foil for the violins. The violins sustain the peaceful mood with varied melodies and harmonic lines. It advances ever so slowly and a fugal passage ensues this is of great beauty. We do however, still have the adagio tempo, and the graceful mood returns. Very measured violins produce a longing melody which lingers in the air ascending melodies come forth and the intensity rises for the first time. I believe this is where we start to hear the ‘Intimate Voices’. The next movement, marked adagio, is the emotional heart of the work and begins with a graceful mood. Nearing the end, they just play melodic fragments and fade away. The intensity returns and the violins resume their brisk tempo. The music becomes almost irreverent for a time as scattered phrases are heard. The second movement is ever so short, just over two minutes. Soon, chords are to be heard, taking the music to completion. A brief pause introduces a peaceful passage, at a slow tempo and the violin reigns supreme. The tempo now quickens and the violins become extremely busy. A solo violin is answered by the ensemble and then blends with it. It then moves into a tempo and a positive mood. The ensemble join in to create a lush texture and soon the cello comes forward to make a strong statement with the violins accompanying.

The work opens with a lone violin exploring a poignant melody. The quartet is in five movements, and very long. Sibelius was infamous as some critics and composers denigrated many of his works but this quartet has maintained its popularity and there are at least 100 recordings available. His most famous is titled Intimate Voices, in D minor, Op. Finnish composer Johan Julius Christian Sibelius wrote four string quartets.

Sibelius string quartet