Alongside Einojuhani Rautavaara, Aulis Sallinen and Joonas Kokkonen were the best-known Finnish composers of the postwar era internationally, closely followed by Kalevi Aho and Jouni Kaipainen. String Quartet no. 4, opus 25 by Sallinen and Quartet No. 3 by Kalevi Aho, both composed in 1971, are fine examples of modern Finnish music of that period. In contract to the extensiveness of Sallinen’s quartet music, the Quartet No. 3 by Kalevi Aho is an eight-movement suite.
The first two quartets by Danish Hans Abrahamsen date from his first creative period. Quartet no. 1, from 1973, consists of ten extremely concise preludes, all exercises in style, sound and timbre.
Aulis Sallinen (1935) – String quartet no.4, opus 25 ‘Quiet Songs’ (1971)
Jean Sibelius Quartet
CD: Ondine
Kalevi Aho (1949) – String quartet no.3 (1971)
- Vivace, 2. Andante, 3. Presto, 4. Allegro non troppo, 5. Presto, 6. Meno mosso, 7. Adagio, 8. Allegretto
Stenhammar Quartet
CD: BIS
Hans Abrahamsen (1952) – String quartet no.1 ’10 Preludes for string quartet’ (1973)
Danish String Quartet
CD: ECM New3 Series
