St. Lawrence String Quartet/ Haydn 77/1

[Michajeru]

Visually this performance is disturbing - the players look like they are having an epileptic attack.

[Rocksolid88]

Jesus - fucking - Christ, if it would require them to do the damn melbourne shuffle while playing, in order to get the quality of sound they do, then by god i'd love to see them do it.

Got to love you youtube critics - if you can't stad to watch this movement, then by all means, feel free to just.. not.. watch.. Kinda' makes sense, no?

[nicpag9]

It's just amazing to me that people are just as stupid and ignorant in the 21st century as they were in the 18th & 19th. Here we are listening to these high class youtube critics talking about the way the musicians move. The master violinist himself Niccolo Paganini was under constant scrutiny for his on and off stage antics that were much more extreme than just "feeling" the music he was playing. These guys are into what they are doing and the country clubbers have showed up to complain.

[violinjim]

I could care less if they were standing on their heads. This is an awesome performance by an awesome Quartet. Having just played this piece last Sunday, I know the difficulty of playing it cleanly, and yet it's such an infectiously fun piece to play, I can't blame them for really getting into it!

[BozVar26]

the violist holds her instrument very low



[gogogadgethands]

St. Laurence SQ is awesome and I can't wait for them to get back to London Ont!

[decky1990]

I hear they all drink loads of water before each performance...

[DoAnything3456]

Excellent! I love the clarity in voices that the string quartet brings. Great performance!

[cellizzt]

Kein edler Klang, zu wenig Kommunikation, unproduktive, unlogische Zappeleien und verkrampfte Haltungen. Bratschistin könnte den Notenständer etwas höher stellen und den Blei von der Schnecke entfernen. Die zwei Geigen könnten Kaugummi an den Schuhen kleben. Ansonsten ordentlich gespielt! NICHT BÖSE GEMEINT

[kylelandry]

So glad they are coming to my school as our string quartet in residence...

[Galantski]

Very energetic playing...solid ensemble. The violin players have annoying mannerisms (the first violin's constant, quirky moving around borders on being a Glenn Gould caliber eccentricity, while the second's slightly more subdued and the lower strings keep things anchored in more ways than one--LOL), but they definitely sound great! Thanks for posting.

[violinhunter2]

A very spirited interpretation. Not boring for even one second. Bravo.

[nikkinutsy]

Wonderful VKN at your TO birthday blast guys! Is a recording in the offing?

[urbanquartet]

The SLSQ is one of the finest, energetic, and innovative quartets of our time. I worked with them on several occasions and it was a distinct honor to play with players of such an incomparable caliber. Hi Geoff, Chris & Leslie! -Matt Gordon

[gootzite]

the body unity was equal to the ensemble sound. they're great ijg

[ThoughtTravel]

This group is incredible. I've heard them many times at Spoleto USA ... Performances so thrilling a standing ovation and 5 curtain calls just was not enough to express appreciation!!! So I can be picky here: grrr If this tempo is ok, perhaps I need to hear an articulation of those opening 7 notes to capture me: A separate undeniable statement : In the recapitulation they do that... So I'm thinking someone was just a little tired here? ;) What!? They're human!? oy! ;) Still Great!

[MoesTube1]

Top notch performance if they need to stand on their heads to sound like that then I'm for it. I'm sick of people whining about being distracted by the way an artist moves it's part of the expression if you don't like it close your eyes or stick to audio recordings.

[thatsodiesel]

That is so funny because that was the first thing that came to my mind when the video began.

to each is their own *shrugs*

[superiorbandgeek]

@MoesTube1 I agree and disagree. There are times when musicians need to show restraint in their physical movements. This however isn't one of them. Haydn's quartets and symphonies should *almost* always be played light hearted, jovial and with humor.

[MoesTube1]

@superiorbandgeek Yes I agree more subtle movements would probably be more appropriate for a more um...subtle movement (sad attempt at musical humor). If excessive movement causes bad bow contact and poor intonation then it bothers me or when a player adds a lot of "show biz" to their gestures for effect but what's coming out of the fiddle isn't particulary impressive that can be annoying too.

[DoAnything3456]

@MoesTube1 I disagree. Considering its a live performance, the visual is as much a part of the performance as is the audio. Maybe not to the same extent, but to say visuals are not relevant to music would be silly. Imagine that instead of playing in a concert hall they were playing on an indoor punk rock stage completely dark with the exception of blinking lights. You see my point?

[MoesTube1]

@DoAnything3456 I'm not implying that if they came out in Santa suits it wouldn't be distracting I just think that anything that is within the realm of violin technique that is necessary to produce the desired tone and is fine with me.

[DoAnything3456]

@MoesTube1 I agree totally with what you just said now. I don't even think that I ever watch the video when I listen to music on. In fact, I will only listen to studio recordings of music because I could honestly care less about what goes on live as long as it sounds good.

[GeniusHaydn]

You really have to look at Beethoven's Op. 18's to get an equivalent minuet.

[v222v2v222v2]

oh my! they hardly sit in their seats, they sound so nice!

[XEA6L]

As a flautist, I believe that you should do move if you feel that it will make the music come alive. This was a splendid performance [musically], but the violinists moved to a point where it detracted from the beauty of the piece, and this should not be. They should also try to keep their legs together and not look as if they are sprawled over the chairs.

[ashaam]

I do agree with you. The first violin is so funny. If you turn off the volume it seems like he's playing a very noisy section in some Shostakovich quartet, instead of playing HAYDN :D

Anyway, damn good playing

[xAnnaXP]

omg the first violinist is crazy. like wow.

[bachaluau]

pretty dead pan violist that you cannot hear. and gee, the tempo is so slow and pompous. gah

[fittingthemold]

Sound quality is wonderful, however I am afraid the first violin is going to take flight...

[mixangelworld]

lovley

[jonifoni]

first violinist should try stop spreading his legs apart

[jessiestg]

d00d why are the stands so low?

it makes bad posture

[gxshere]

They sound great but the violinists look silly.

[apr28]

they're even better when performing live about 3 feet away from you.

[musico159]

I had clases with Scott St. John & Christopher Costanza, they're amazing!

[hudruk]

overtasted...peasant playing.

[mixangelworld]

well someone has thier nose up in the air too far lets see if you can play that you pompus old mole

[mixangelworld]

that is a compliment paid to hudruk

[mixangelworld]

a compliment for Hudruk

[mixangelworld]

sir Im a full blooded russian besides bieng born in america and ive never seen such rude familiarity i hope you read the compliment i posted pointed towords you

[ddviolinist]

lol...God...get over yourself already and check the ego in at coat check!

[elgatosucio]

WOW!!! 2 thumbs up

[mykatya]

Yes, the trio is both surprising AND funny. Good work.

[richtomes]

Fantastic foot and knee technique. Except for the cellist. The violist sometimes tries, but is too shy to do it properly. Seriously though - fantastic playing, like it a lot.

[tlguyler]

I am going to go and see these guys tonight, holy crap I am really impressed by the little violist!!! and man are they ever animated

[GeniusHaydn]

Haydn was the greatest composer of String Quartets in the classical period. It is refreshing seeing musicians playing his music, because Haydn's music is truly as great as Mozart's. These musicans do an excellent job of this minuet of FJH's No.77 quartet. Bravo...

[GeniusHaydn]

I don't think I've ever heard a better Minuet by any other composer.....

[mstepansky]

And...Mozart's teacher was Josef Haydn.

[ziriyab]

Wonderful playing