FRIEDRICH ERNST FESCA (1789-1826): String Quartets, Vol. 1 - 3 String Quartets (Nos. 1-3), Op. 1, 3 String Quartets, Op. 3 (Nos. 7-9), String Quartets No. 13 in D Minor, Op. 12 and No. 15 in D, Op. 34, Potpourri No. 2 in B Flat, Op. 11.

Description: Fesca published 16 string quartets (among other chamber works) between 1815 and his death although some of them, like the three Op. 1 quartets here, may date from as early as 1808. Chronologically, they fill the gap between Beethoven's middle quartets and the beginning of the acceptance of his late quartets and Schubert's late, great quartets in the contemporary performance practice, after which Fesca's rather rapidly disappear. Using Mozart and Haydn as departure points, Fesca follows and advances that Viennese classical style and this cycle will join those of Spohr and Onslow in helping flesh out the history of the string quartet in the early 19th century (it would help to have more of Ries' quartets too, it being almost six years since the second volume of these on cpo!). 3 CDs. Diogenes Quartet.