Good music to study by!

The Ying Quartet holds up its reputation with this amazing recording. Their ability to play as one allows for their magnificent precision, creating a sound-scape that will take you for a ride! I highly recommend this CD (and anything else by the Ying Quartet) for anyone interested in experiencing the American sound at its finest.

If you are a fan of any stringed instruments this album is for you. Truly a beautiful album... Extremely talented Artists!

I'm amazed that the Ying quartet is not better known. From their founding in the 90's they've stood toe to toe with the best quartets out there. This album is a true American album of Barber and Hanson. Barber needs no introduction, but Hanson was probablly the better composer, and sadly played that often. The Ying give the best recording yet to have these quarets taken seriously. This is a must for anyone who loves American Music, or chamber music in general. -Bz

This disc consists primarily of works by Samuel Barber and Howard Hanson, as well as a piece from Randall Thompson. The first work is Barber’s “String Quartet Op. 11”, and every American is certainly familiar with the Adagio movement. The Ying does a great job of playing the entire piece and not just focusing on the Adagio – and that particular movement has a more integrated feel when played in context with the other movements. Also featured is Barber’s “Serenade, Op. 1”, which is somewhat airy and simultaneously somber in the first movement, but rather spritely and joyful at the beginning of the third. The final Barber work on the disc is titled “Dover Beach, Op. 3” featuring Randall Scarlata, and it is both lyrical, reaching, and somber. The text of the poem is included in the liner notes. Next is “String Quartet in One Movement, Op. 23”, by Howard Hanson. This work is very emotional and dramatic, and would certainly come off as being overly so were it not for the sensitivity and virtuosity of the Ying. They are a perfect match for this piece, and keep a wonderful balance between the technical and emotional elements. This is good stuff. Hanson’s “Concerto Da Camera, Op. 7”, follows, and it is rather a juxtaposition between the musical material of the quartet and the piano, while at the same time warm and lush, giving way to dramatic musical material as well. The last work on the recording is Randall Thompson’s “Alleluia” which is simply breathtaking The piece and Hanson’s were worth the price of the disc in and of themselves. The Sono Luminus label has provided both a conventional CD as well as a Blu-Ray audio CD, and the sound quality on both is fantastic. This is a wonderful recording from one of the best Chamber Music groups touring today. Highly recommended.