String Quartet No. 1 in D minor (1926)
String Quartet No. 4 in C Major (1940)

These finely-crafted String Quartets by Swiss violinist and composer Richard Flury (1896-1967), should have had close encounters with recording studio microphones long before now. This premiere recording by the Colla Parte Quartet showcases chamber music which despite having been written during the inter-war years and at the onset of the second world war respectively, circumvents any of the malaise often imposed on it by other composers of the time, but instead projects a highly lyrical character. In fact, as pointed out in the booklet notes, the Fourth Quartet doesn't offer any hint of turbulence, emotional or otherwise.

The booklet notes also remark that Richard Flury's first instrument was the violin, and that it was this instrument, and not composing, that provided Flury with his main lifelong source of income. He taught the violin in schools until his retirement, and played within an orchestra and even earned some conducting positions. As a composer he was highly productive and wrote five symphonies, four operas, four violin concertos, eleven violin sonatas, and seven string quartets. Toccata Classics have already recorded and released much of his orchestral output, so it's nice to see the label now focusing their efforts on his chamber music.

This is consummate and polished 20th century string quartet writing that doesn't dredge up the gas chambers or plays way out in left field. In fact, the richly harmonic slow movement of the C Major (audio clip below) is highly redolent of late 19th century chamber music. Thanks to efforts like this, we get to hear neglected music for the first time.