British early Contemporary composer Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold [1921–2006] wrote two string quartets. The Second Quartet, written in 1975, contains four movements.

The first, allegro movement opens with a frisky feeling of warmth, before a solo cello statement lowers the intensity. The violins suddenly turn a little modern, with an atonal feeling. Now a pleasant, but frantic violin passage takes over and the intensity rises, but the music is tonal. The violins move on to an intertwining section, which is mild. Nearing the end, the violins express gracefully with sparse harmonised melodies. The end comes quietly.

A solo violin introduces the second movement with a beauty that is difficult to describe. Using double-stops – playing two strings at once –the violin offers up a lonesome, sparse passage. After a time the two violins take up a folk-like dance feeling. However, the accompaniment brings an intensity to the music which is quite overpowering in its rhythmic thrusts. The conclusion is a measured folk-like flourish. This is a strange movement, with conflicting emotions being expressed freely.

An andante movement follows with a despondent feeling as a solo violin meanders with beautifully lamenting melodic lines. The second violin can occasionally be heard but the texture is very sparse. The violins gradually begin to reach out, revealing a wonderful, mournful soundscape. A very slow tempo is initiated, with the slightest of pulses before the violins again become more expansive –it is mostly a duet here. The pulse returns and the ensemble gather to create a stronger sound. This is sustained for a time until a pause brings about a return to a solo violin, with sparse harmonies from the second violin leading to a quiet conclusion to a most affecting movement.

The final movement begins in a positive mood as a violin is supported by busy, but tender, accompaniment. A slightly serious tone begins to develop, but it is short-lived. A return of the ensemble is also brief, and the violin again strikes out on its own with a slightly longing feeling. A sparse section unfolds as the violin continues its musings. Suddenly there is an energy as the ensemble provide complex interjections. The cello expresses powerfully and the ensemble is now in full flight. There is pizzicato and more double-stops as the feeling has a vitality about it. The mood is now quite assertive, and the violin builds the intensity before leading into a wonderful pastoral scene. There is another pause and three strong chords conclude the work.

This music is that of a unique composer. There are touches of Romanticism but also a nod to more modernist possibilities. The First Quartet is also wonderful and both feature appealing slow movements.

The review CD, Arnold: String Quartets 1 & 2, performed by the McCapra Quartet is available on Amazon US and UK. There is also a version containing the two quartets on Naxos, by the Maggini Quartet.

Both discs are on Spotify – YouTube has an entirely different performance and earsense has the McCapra version.

Listenability: Positive, appealing twentieth century work.