Franz Berwald - Quartets in A minor & E flat major - Frydén Quartet

Franz Berwald (1796-1868)

Quartet in E flat major

(recorded 1959)

Quartet in A minor (1849)

(recorded 1967)

Frydén Quartet

Lars Frydén & Tullo Galli, Violins
Björn Sjögren, Viola
Bengt Ericson, Cello

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Note 1: This digital recording (which was received just today) of Berwald's Quartet in A minor from the Frydén Quartet has already been uploaded as an LP transfer along with LP transfers of Berwald's Quartet in G minor - plus the 'Stor' Septet in B flat major and Kreutzer's Grand Septet.

If anyone is still convinced that LP transfers are somehow inferior to digital material, one is welcome to compare the sound of this digital material with the previously uploaded LP transfer. The sound of the two are for all purposes identical (except that my "remastering" gives the recording a bit more volume - so one may want to adjust one's playback accordingly).

In addition - in terms of the two dates of these recordings (1959 and 1967) - there is no substantial difference in sound (except that the earlier recording may have a more balanced sound than the later one ... but this is only my first impression; a lot always depends on who has made the recording). But also notice how (while the designation "stereo/mono" does appear) the recording date "1959" does not appear on the outer CD cover - but only inside at the end of notes, a common practice with all digital material (a practice which in fact began with LP's - and even earlier). What is behind this practice of concealing (or omitting altogether) "old" recording dates is that it is assumed that the potential customer is automatically prejudiced against the "old" in favor of the "new" - and this is an assumption which is completely accurate. Potential customers have been thoroughly conditioned to have these (unfounded, irrational) prejudices by nearly a century of Western consumerist ideology. That "new" is always better than "old" is now taken as an established fact of nature, God's Will, What Your Mother Wants For You, and Reality with a capital letter.

Note 2: The notes for this CD are excellent.

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Digital material from 1986/1988.
Includes cover and notes (English).