String Quartet No. 3

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Kronos Quartet

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Like so many of Henryk Mikolaj Górecki's compositions, his String Quartet No. 3, Opus 67 is inspired or at least references poetry: in the case of this quartet (1994-1995) the poem at its base is a simple four line poem by Russian writer Khlebnikov - "When horses die, they breathe,/ When grasses die, they wither,/ When suns die, they go out,/ When people die, they sing songs." Górecki is a master of sharing the most intimate interstices of the human soul in his haunting music and his third string quartet is for this listener on of his most intimate utterings. It is performed with consummate skill and grace and understated passion by the Kronos Quartet for whom the work was written. It is long (around 50 minutes) but every moment contains substance and beauty.

Some listeners may find the degree of invention subdued and at first hearing that response is understandable. Yet listening to the work multiple times the soulful dignity as well as the inherent optimism of a musical poet sharing a life painted in terror and grounded by the folk music of his native Poland becomes increasingly apparent. There are moments that mark Górecki's sound, slow massive movement of a single repetitive chord altered only by the pulsations of viola or violin. But there are new sounds here: in the second movement marked 'Largo, Cantabile' the string quartet assumes the intonation usually associated with an old fashioned accordion, while in movements single string motifs blossom into romantic songs that are at times suggestive of love songs/folk songs and at other times of sacred hymns.

This Third Quartet, so exceptionally well played by the Kronos Quartet, is far more meditative than extroverted. Górecki speaks to the quiet places within our memories and our minds and somehow makes those private places audible with music so gentle that it defies description. Grady Harp, September 07