Maxwell Quartet

The Maxwell Quartet blends refined classical style with folk roots, expanding string quartet repertoire through diverse projects.

Strongly connected to its own Scottish roots, the group often performs classical repertoire and new music alongside folk-inspired works. Its first two releases on Linn Records paired string quartets by Haydn with the players’ own compositions, based on Scottish folk music, the first reaching number three in the classical specialist charts. They recently gave the world premiere of a new commission by Linda Buckley with bagpiper Brìghde Chaimbeul, touring to Celtic Connections and across Europe.

Haydn and Brahms were both greatly influenced by the Zingarese folk style, and this shines through in their string quartets: Haydn’s warm and generous Opus 20 no 4 is one of the jewels of the Opus 20 set, and its rustic Menuet is marked “alla Zingarese”, and is one of the best examples of Haydn’s interest in these folky cross- rhythms and gypsy-style melodies. Composed exactly 101 years later, Brahms’ second string quartet (Op 51 no 2) is equally Zingarese in spirit, particularly its finale, a wild, exuberant dance, infused with Hungarian folk rhythms which set in motion a competition of meters. The Maxwell Quartet combine this folk inspired repertoire with their own latest versions of traditional folk tunes from Scotland.

Programme:

Haydn, Joseph: String Quartet in D major Op.20 No.4 Hob. III:34

MAXWELL QUARTET: Folk Music of Scotland

Interval

Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet No.2 in A minor Op.51 No.2