<<  -- 2 --  Ron Bierman    SPEAKING EXTRAVAGANTLY

Intense best anticipates the remainder of the recording. Stock named his Second Quartet Speaking Extravagantly, a title taken from a wonderful Charles Ives quote, 'Perhaps music is the art of speaking extravagantly'. The piece requires closer listening. Tonality is less obvious, rhythms change quickly and often, and technical effects are skillful and varied. There are fleeting references to Ives and Ruggles in the affecting final movement [listen -- track 7, 11:16-12:12].

The Fourth Quartet is unusual in structure. The first movement makes use of twelve tone technique, though in the more lyrical style of Berg's Violin Concerto. The concluding second movement maintains Stock's penchant for slow, deeply melancholy finales. In total contrast to the first movement, it's based on a descending tonal phrase of six notes [listen -- track 9, 9:30-10:20]. Stock's effective working out of this simple material cements the impression of a sincere and eclectic professional who knows how to achieve the effect he is after.

Cuarteto Latinoamericano has been together for twenty years and provides as good an argument for Stock's Quartets as I can imagine. The group's sound is lush and full and the players are in command of this sometimes difficult music. Stock is stronger with structure, rhythm, harmony and tonal effect than he is with melody. But, in spite of a bit of a comeback, tunes remain out of fashion and lovers of contemporary chamber music will find much to admire and respond to in this fine recording.

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