Henri Casadesus: String Quartet in B Minor
Ottorino Respighi: String Quartet in D Major
Camille Saint-Saëns: Le papillon et l'étoile
Henri Casadesus: Ronde de Saisons

And now for something completely different ... and utterly captivating!

Viola player and composer Henri Casadesus (1879-1947), uncle of the famous pianist Robert Casadesus, founded the Société des Instruments Anciens in 1901, to promote and perform not only baroque music, but also new works which they composed themselves or commissioned from prominent composers of the day. Their instruments of choice, considered obsolete at the time, were the quinton, viola d'amore, viola da gamba, and bass viol. "This album - a revival of a revival - presents the modern premiere recordings of repertoire composed for, and performed by, the Société des Instruments Anciens." {Liner Notes}

Because this is 20th century music performed with 17th century instrumentation, you would initially be hard-pressed to determine its provenance if you were listening blindfolded. But the inner ear quickly adjusts and your focus instantly turns to the music itself. The music of Henri Casadesus is slightly reiterative, as he relies on repetition rather than development as a composing technique. He often returns, with slight alterations, to the same motif or melody, but that's perfectly fine since his main ideas are very melodic. The opening Allegro and Choral movements of his B minor String Quartet are totally compelling. And the same can be said about the pizzicato Summer movement of his charming Ronde de Saisons.

With the exception of the final Tambourin movement of his String Quartet in D Major, the submission by Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) is a bit lackluster. Surprising when you consider that his orchestral works were masterworks of the form, and his fascination with music from the Renaissance. On the other hand, Le papillon et l'étoile by Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), arranged here by Kivie Cahn-Lipman and featuring mezzo-soprano Tracy Cowart and Sian Ricketts on recorder, is a charming little gem. Based on a beautiful poem by J. Barbier, it relates the heartwarming love story between a moth and a star. The music flows forward with tender affection and warmth, and its sonic canvas of voice, recorder and strings is delightfully effective.

The 'off the beaten path' approach to repertoire by the viola da gamba ensemble Science Ficta is what makes this recording a great addition to any collection. You won't hear this music anywhere else. Loren Ludwig (Quinton), Doug Balliett (Bass Viol), Kivie Cahn-Lipman (Viola da Gamba) and Caitlin Hedge (Viola d'Amore) make up this committed quartet. Revive your listening experience!