John Ireland's String Quartet No.2 dates from 1897, at which time he was studying composition at the Royal Academy with Charles Villiers Stanford. Stanford was a proponent of Brahms and held him up to his students as a model.
"String Quartet No.2 in c minor is a massive work, lasting some three quarters of an hour. The opening Allegro moderato is composed on a big canvas. The captivating first theme, presented by the 2nd Violin, is at one and the same time of great breath and quite lyrical. The melodic influence of Dvořák can be heard. The development of this theme shows a more modern-sounding touch than Dvořák ever put into his quartets. The mastery of the string writing and quartet style is really quite impressive, as Ireland at 18 seems quite aware of how contemporary, late Romantic composers were tonally moving beyond Brahms. One can hear in the music similarities that one finds in Dohnanyi, Stenhammar, and Zemlinsky, whose works with which he could not have been familiar. Ireland gave the second movement the subtitle Nocturne. It is a tender Andante and has an American flavor, showing some resemblance to what Aaron Copland later wrote. The attractive second theme introduces an intermezzo section. This is followed up by a muscular and original sounding Scherzo, Presto. The trio section provides a fine contrast to the powerful, forward-thrusting scherzo. Here, a lovely melody is entrusted to the cello in its tenor register. The other voices join in before the cello once again is given the lead in a short development, which then flows into the recapitulation. The finale, Poco allegro, begins with a dark and moody theme from which Ireland creates one of the grandest sets of variations imaginable. running the complete spectrum of moods, from pastoral to stormy, from languid to a very energetic cannon. Each instrument is given a chance to lead; there are also variations using different instrumental combinations, including an especially telling duet for the 1st violin and cello. After the 11th variation, Ireland brings this tour d’force to a close with a fiery coda. This is an altogether first-rate quartet, a youthful masterpiece, if you will. The somewhat derivative nature of the first quartet is gone. Here, the music is entirely fresh and convincing. It belongs in the concert hall, yet makes no extraordinary technical demands and can also be enjoyed by amateurs."---The Guide to String Quartets
John Ireland (1879-1962) was born in the English village of Bowdon near the city of Manchester. After studying at the Royal College of Music in London with Charles Villiers Stanford, he pursued a career as a composer and teacher, eventually obtaining a position at the College. Among his students were Ernest Moeran and Benjamin Britten. Primarily a composer of songs, during the early part of his career, Ireland did write chamber music and won the first prize in the 1908 Cobbett Competition for chamber music with his First Violin Sonata.
This is a superb work which can be warmly recommended to professionals and amateurs alike. It certainly deserves to be heard in concert.
