Listening: Danish String Quartet

I had the privilege of seeing the Danish String Quartet recently at Zankel Hall with my friend Jesse—the first time I’d seen a string quartet in person.

They played Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major, which I’d never heard before. It’s a beautiful piece with memorable melodies and a huge emotional range. Hearing the strings live felt so different than hearing records… the quiet parts were quiet and the loud parts loud. Things just resonated differently.

Seeing them live brought me back to Wood Works, their album of folk music from ~10 years ago. The whole record is great, but “Waltz After Lasse in Lyby” is a standout for me—there’s a repeated sad melody with a high harmony that almost sounds like someone singing.

I bought more tickets to events at Carnegie Hall this year; I’m looking forward. In the meantime, I’m digging through Danish String Quartet’s deep discography. Recommended.