Danish Quartet

The Danish Quartet is a name which has been carried by four Danish quartets:

Contents 1 Den Danske Kvartet 2 Le Quatuor Danois 3 The Danish Quartet 4 The Young Danish Quartet 5 References

Den Danske Kvartet

1935 the Danish Quartet (Danish: Den Danske Kvartet) was a quartet for flute, violin, cello and piano which was active 1935-1957.^[1] Members included:

• Holger Gilbert-Jespersen (1890–1975), flute.^[2]
• Erling Bloch (1904–1992), violin.
• Torben Anton Svendsen (1904–1980), cello.^[3]
• Holger Lund Christiansen, piano. (also accompanist to Aksel Schiøtz)

The Quartet released several 78s, including Handel's Trio Sonata No.7, in C minor.

Erling Bloch had earlier founded, in 1933, the Erling Bloch Quartet, a traditional string quartet comprising Erling Bloch and Lavard Friisholm, violins, Hans Kassow, viola, Torben Anton Svendsen (again), cello. Among other recordings the Erling Bloch Quartet recorded the Nielsen String Quartet No.3 in 1946.

Le Quatuor Danois

1949-1983 Den Nye Danske Kvartet, known in English media as The Danish Quartet,^[4] and in their releases on the Valois label of Michel Bernstein as the Quatuor Danois. The ensemble was the first Danish state ensemble with educational duties 1967-1978, and was under the patronage of King Frederick IX of Denmark.^[5] Members included:

• Arne Svendsen (1929–2010) first violinist.
• Palle Heichelmann, violin.
• Knud Frederiksen, viola.
• Pierre René Honnens, cello.

The Danish Quartet

Active from 1985-1996 as Den Danske Strygekvartet. The quartet recorded the Carl Nielsen string quartets for Kontrapunkt 1992^[6]

• Tim Frederiksen, violin, leader.^[7]
• Arne Balk-Møller (b.1965), violin.^[8]
• Claus Myrup, viola
• Henrik Brendstrup, cello.^[9]

Recordings include:

• Carl Nielsen String Quartets, Kontrapunkt.^[10]
• Sofia Gubaidulina String Quartets Nos. 1-3, Trio. CPO.
• Paul Hindemith Complete String Quartets. CPO.

The Young Danish Quartet

Den Unge Danske Strygekvartet (The Young Danish Quartet), made their debut in the Copenhagen Summer Festival in 2002.^[11] As Den Unge Danske Strygekvartet they also recorded the Nielsen string quartets, but for Dacapo. ^[12] Following the change of name to Den Danske Strygekvartet (The Danish Quartet) members include:

• Fredrik Sjölin, cello.
• Frederik Øland (b.1984), violin.
• Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen (b.1983), violin.
• Asbjørn Nørgaard (b.1984) viola.

Recordings include:

• Carl Nielsen String Quartets, Dacapo.

References

1. ^ Denmark. An official handbook.‎ Udenrigsministeriet 1970 p733
2. ^ Holger Gilbert-Jespersen in Danish Wikipedia
3. ^ Torben Anton Svendsen in Danish Wikipedia
4. ^ Robin Stowell The Cambridge companion to the string quartet 2003 Page 85
5. ^ per Gettysburg Times Nov 22, 1960
6. ^ Gramophone, Volume 71, Page 71 1993 "The Danish Quartet is not to be confused with earlier ensembles of the same name they are the third to bear the name and were formed in 1985."
7. ^ Tim Frederiksen Artist biography
8. ^ Arne Balk-Møller Artist biography
9. ^ Henrik Brendstrup Artist biography
10. ^ Carl Nielsen String Quartets, Kontrapunkt
11. ^ The Danish Quartet Homepage
12. ^ Gramphone Editors Choice July 2007