American early 20th century composer William Quincy Porter [1897–1966] wrote nine string quartets. According to Wikipedia, Porter obtained a music degree from Yale University, then spent a year in Paris. Upon his return to New York he studied with Ernest Bloch and Vincent d’Indy, both brilliant exponents of the prevailing European string quartet style.
After a further three-year stint in Paris he returned to America permanently in 1928, having already written three string quartets. It is worth noting that there was no corresponding American string quartet style at this time, which in my opinion did not emerge until the late 1940s.
Porter’s First Quartet, from 1923, features an obviously European sensibility. This work is in three movements and tends to be mostly slow.
It opens with a crystalline melody, a violin expressing over delicate harmonies, and no sign of a tempo. The second violin now joins in with further melodic development, each voice being equally important. Slowly a tempo emerges and the violins clash with the ensemble and propel the music forward. A short motif is carried around amongst the players. The tempo is now well established and the viola and cello add to the richness of the sound. For me this music is as European as you would find anywhere.
A change in mood offers up a splendid sound with a duet between the two violins being the defining nature. A further return to tempo is quite engaging but does not last. Fragments in the style of the opening feeling prevail leading to a luxuriant sound. The end is a gentle fade.
The second movement features an ambience that could be found in the previous material. Delicate violin melodies wash over a gentle accompaniment. This leads into a harmonised motif that features a great depth of beauty. The cello now goes solo with the motif, allowing the violins to express in a charming manner. A brief pause ensues, then the cello motif again allows the violins to express soulfully. The end again is a slow fade.
The final, allegro movement features sounds from the previous material, but at a tempo. Violins reach out and their lines intertwine before the cello begins a solid motif which changes the character of the music, into a somewhat abstract nature. A sparse passage unfolds and the violins are wonderful here. Slowly the tempo builds again, with the cello being most prominent. This leads to another sparse section with no tempo being evident. For allegro, there is not much in the way of rhythm until just before the end, which pulses to a conclusion.
I find this music, with its European basis to be fascinating. The later works still sound European but have a darker flavour.
The review 2-CD set The Complete String Quartets by the Potomac Quartet on the Albany label is available from Amazon US. There is also a Naxos CD of Quartets 5-8.
Quartets Nos. 5-8 are on Spotify, and all nine are on earsense and YouTube.
Listenability: A nice surprise from an early American composer.