David Diamond - String Quartets 3 & 8; Concerto for String Quartet

David Diamond (1915-2005)

Concerto for String Quartet

String Quartet No. 3

String Quartet No. 8

Potomac String Quartet

"Richly contrapuntal, quintessentially American, and directly expressive, these three Diamond works...demonstrate a continuity of quality and inspiration that will leave you wondering why we have had to wait so long for a recording project of this kind." (Crisis)

Most 20th century chamber music lovers are familiar with the string quartet output of such composers as Bartok and Shostakovich because their complete cycles are readily available on CD. This, however, has not been the case with the American master David Diamond, since only one of his eleven quartets is currently available. This lamentable situation is about to be rectified by the wonderful Potomac String Quartet which is based in Washington, D.C. Since Diamond had begun to compose at a very young age and had early on shown an impressive musical talent, he began to study violin when his family moved to Cleveland. In 1928, he was introduced to Maurice Ravel. In 1929, he worked with composer Bernard Rogers at the Eastman School but left in 1934 to study with Roger Sessions in New York City. In 1935 his Sinfonietta won the Elfrida Whiteman Scholarship (he still remembers George Gershwin, one of the judges of the competition, smoking his ever present cigar, putting his arm around him and asking, "Where'd you ever learn to orchestrate like that, Kid?"). That same year he began a life-long friendship with Aaron Copland, who offered guidance and support to the young composer. In the next three decades Diamond would write eleven string quartets and win numerous awards. He has also composed eleven symphonies.