For the Record, Op. 293: Charles Yang; Jasper String Quartet; Juilliard String Quartet re-issue

By Laurie Niles: Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

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Clik here to view. Charles Yang Kris Bowers

Composer Kris Bowers and violinist Charles Yang.

For a Younger SelfAmerican Youth Symphony, Carlos Izcaray conductingCharles Yang, violinKris Bowers, composer

This final recording by the American Youth Symphony (which shut its doors in March 2024) features a violin concerto by Los Angeles-based composer Kris Bowers, performed by violinist Charles Yang. The work was commissioned by Sarah and Peter Mandell as part of the AYS's "Korngold Commission Project," which aimed to bring the work of film composers (such as the late Erich Korngold) into the concert hall. Being primarily a film composer himself, this is Bowers' first concert work for orchestra. "Throughout my collaboration with Charles Yang, conversations led us to reminisce on our fledgling years at Juilliard and in NYC," Bowers said, "and so, 'For a Younger Self' is an effort to encapsulate the essence of a young heros journey one where the protagonist, embodied by Charles and his violin, embarks upon the adventure of self-discovery amidst the challenges of young life in an unfamiliar space." The AYS premiered the piece at Walt Disney Concert Hall in February 2020. BELOW: Mini-documentary about the violin concerto "For a Younger Self":

BarefootJasper String Quartet Natalie Zhu, pianoTina Davidson, composer

This portrait album highlights five of composer Tina Davidson's chamber pieces for varying combinations of strings and piano, composed over the past decade, including Tremble (2013) for violin, cello and piano; the title track Barefoot (2011) for violin, cello, viola, and piano; Wepan (2014) for string quartet and piano; Hush (2017) for violin and piano; and Leap (2021) for violin, cello, viola, and piano. "I am, I suppose, always looking to understand myself. I pry into these words, digging deeper into what it is for me to tremble, weep or leap how I see myself, now, as I move forward," Davidson said. The album follows the publication last year of Tina's book, a memoir called Let Your Heart Be Broken. BELOW: Teaser for the album.

The Juilliard String Quartet Plays SchoenbergThe Juilliard Quartet

Sony Classical is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Arnold Schoenberg with this reissue of a seven-disc set of the Juilliard Quartets recordings of Schoenberg's four quartets (versions from both the 1950s and 1970s). Their complete set from 1975 won them the 1977 Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance. The set also includes a sextet version of "Verklärte Nacht," with the Juilliard Quartet joined in 1991 by violist Walter Trampler and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. BELOW: the 1954 recordings: Schoenberg's String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7: Mäßig, langsame Viertel

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.You might also like:

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