WLADYSLAW ZELENSKI (1837-1921): String Quartets in F, Op. 28 and in A, Op. 42.

Description: Zelenski is known as the next important Polish dramatic composer after Moniuszko but he also wrote quite a bit of chamber music. These two quartets date from 1885 and ? show that he was much more pan-European in outlook in his instrumental music. Only the theme of the long variation movement of Op. 28, is folkish, if not actual folk music, and his contempories complained that he seemed only to concern himself with perfect form, attractive harmonies and polyphony. Of course, in those times, being a Polish composer in a partitioned, non-free Poland practically required you to use Polish folk music in your compositions; we can admire Zelenski for the same things over which his countryment took him to task. Four Strings Quartet.