ENJAMIN LEES
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String Quartet No. 5 ...


Listen to a clips ...


MUSIC
Cypress String Quartet, Turning In A New Lees

By Joseph McLellan
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, October 24, 2002; Page C09


Writing in the Washington Post on October 24, 2002, Joseph McLellan said, "The Fifth Quartet of American composer Benjamin Lees, which had its Washington premiere Tuesday evening in the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater, is a brilliant essay in contrasts and accommodations.

"The primary contrast, sketched at the beginning and recurring throughout, pits gentle lyricism against violent rhetoric, and often one pair of players against the other, with intensely dramatic effect.

"The Cypress String Quartet, which opened the Washington Performing Arts Society's Kreeger String Series season with Tuesday night's program, also played Haydn's surprise-filled Quartet in F Minor, Op. 55, No. 2, and Schubert's magnificent "Death and the Maiden" Quartet.

"The performances were expertly phrased and accented, and precisely coordinated, though once or twice the group's bows could have bitten more deeply into the strings.

"Even in the exalted company of Haydn and Schubert, Lees's work stood out.

"Some passages were so wild as to make one wonder whether the music would go out of control, but there was always a sense of formal discipline underlying the most drastic excursions. The contrasts were noticeable not only within movements but also between them.

"The third movement, marked "Quick, quiet," called to mind the gossamer scherzos of Mendelssohn. It was followed by a finale, aptly labeled "Explosive," that could rival Shostakovich at his most violent...."


PLEASE NOTE:
No reproductions of photos, articles, music or reviews are permitted without permission
of the Estate of Benjamin Lees.
  • Home
  • Biography
    • The Introduction
    • Biography of the Man
    • Biographical Chronology
    • Awards
    • Feature Articles
    • Yale's Acquisition
  • Compositions
    • Written Works >
      • Chronological List of Works
      • A Capella
      • Chamber Works
      • Works for Concert Band
      • Orchestral Works
      • Works for Solo Instrument
      • Stage Works
      • Works for Solo Instrument & Orchestra
      • Song Cycles & Solo Vocal Works
      • Works for Voice(s) and Orchestra
    • Reviews >
      • Reviews - Piano Music 1947 - 2005 >
        • Review - Uncle Dave Lewis (AllMusic Blog)
        • Review - Shirley Ratcliffe
        • Review - Scott Morrison
      • Borealis
      • Concerto for Brass Choir and Orchestra
      • Concerto for Chamber Orchestra
      • Concerto for French Horn and Orchestra
      • Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra
      • Concerto for Violin & Orchestra - April 29, 2008
      • Concerto for Woodwind Quintet and Orchestra
      • Constellations for Orchestra
      • Divertimento-Burlesca
      • Echoes of Normandy
      • Etudes for Piano and Orchestra
      • Fantasy Variations for piano
      • Medea of Corinth
      • Mirrors
      • Oboe Concerto
      • Odyssey 1
      • Odyssey 2
      • Passacaglia for Orchestra
      • Piano Concerto No. 3
      • Piano Sonata No. 4
      • Piano Trio No. 2 "Silent Voices"
      • Scarlatti Portfolio
      • Six Ornamental Etudes
      • Sonata No. 3
      • String Quartet No.1
      • String Quartet No.2
      • String Quartet No. 4
      • String Quartet No. 5
      • String Quartet No. 6
      • Symphony No. 2
      • Symphony No. 3
      • Symphony No. 4 "Memorial Candles"
      • Symphony No. 5 "Kalmar Nyckel"
      • Variations for Piano and Orchestra
      • Violin Concerto
  • Media
    • Interviews >
      • Interview KPFA 94.1 FM
      • Interview KUSC fm 91.5
    • Documentary
    • Photos
    • Audio
    • Video Clips #1
    • Video Clips #2
  • Recordings
  • Contact