RICHARD ARNELL (1917-2009): String Quartets No. 1, Op. 4, No. 2, Op. 14, No. 3 in E Flat, Op. 41, No. 4, Op. 63 and No. 5, Op. 99.

Description: All five of these masterful quartets share the same rich emotional world and melodic warmth of Arnell's orchestral works. The first two (1939 and 1941) were premiered in the U.S., as Arnell, like Britten, was stranded there when the war broke out. One and Four (1950) are in condensed, single-movement form, Two and Three (1945) in traditional three-movement form and Five (1962) the most formally striking: seven movements, the last four being for solo, duo, trio and back to the full quartet for the finale. All are brilliantly written for the quartet formation and their depth, beauty and profundity really set them apart from almost any other 20th century British quartets you can think of. Tippett Quartet.