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Philadelphia String Quartet

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Philadelphia String Quartet
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresClassical
Years active1960 (1960) - 1984 (1984)

The Philadelphia String Quartet was an American string quartet started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The string quartet was started in 1959-60 by four members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who later broke off from the orchestra and accepted a residency at the University of Washington. Alan Iglitzin, the founding violist of the quartet, later went on to found the Olympic Music Festival: Concerts-in-the Barn near Quilcene, Washington.[1]

History

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Veda Reynolds, Irv Eisenberg, Alan Iglitzin, Charlie Brennand

The original founding members of the Philadelphia String Quartet were Veda Reynolds, (first violin); Irwin Eisenberg, (second violin); Alan Iglitzin (viola) and Charles Brennand, (cello). In 1961, the group was appointed quartet in residence at the University of Pennsylvania. The original quartet made its New York City debut at Carnegie Hall during the 1963-64 season.

The foursome resigned from the orchestra to become quartet-in-residence at the University of Washington in 1966. The move angered the orchestra management, which sued the University of Washington in order to prevent the quartet's departure, claiming a violation of contract. The players eventually won the right to leave the orchestra.

In 1966, Alan Iglitzin and other members of the Philadelphia String Quartet moved to Seattle to become the University of Washington's Quartet-in-Residence, a position it held until 1982. [2]A fiscal crisis at the UW caused the end of their 17-year long contract.[3]

In 1968, the US State Department invited the Philadelphia String Quartet to become the first American string Quartet to perform in India. The two-month tour covered the entire country, with concerts played to great acclaim in 14 cities. This experience created a lifelong affection for the country in all the members of the quartet. During its 30-year tenure, the quartet made numerous European and international tours and recorded much of the chamber music repertoire.[4] From 1976-77, the quartet played the entire cycle of quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven. This included Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Quartet No. 16 in F Major, and the Grosse Fugue.

They were also well known for championing new music, and had close musical relationships with the American composer, George Rochberg. They commissioned and premiered his 2nd quartet.[5] They also had a close relationship with the Argentine composer, Alberto Ginastera. [6]The PSQ worked with Ginastera extensively before their performed the revised world premiere of his 2nd quartet.[7]

The founding quartet received many accolades, including the Washington Governor's Arts Award. Some of their chamber music students at the UW won the prestigious Coleman Chamber Music competition prize. Their UW residency also included relationships with Washington State University; Eastern Washington University and Central Washington University where the quartet shared their talents and made great musical relationships with faculty members. They recorded many LPs including works from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn to Bergsma, Bercera, Chihara and other living composers.

PSQ with Stanley, Irv, Charlie and Alan

After the departure of Veda Reynolds in 1975, that was the end of the exceptionally long run, 17 years with the original members. Then, acclaimed violinist Stanley Ritchie joined the quartet. There was a wonderful year with the four of them. Then followed the tragic early death of Charles Brennand in 1976. At that point, they were joined by cellist Carter Enyeart. They performed the Beethoven Cycle at Meany Hall at the UW, and continued to do lots of internationally touring.[8]

From 1983-1987 the quartet consisted of members Karen Iglitzin, 1st violinist and Alan's daughter; Irwin Eisenberg; Alan Iglitzin; and Roger Lebow followed by Alexander Segal. They performed all over the USA, including many university and community residencies. [1] The quartet also made tours to Brazil, Columbia, Chile in 1983; and toured India in 1985.

In 1984, Mr. Iglitzin founded the Concerts-in-the-Barn at the Olympic Music Festival. The music festival became popular with Northwest audiences and was voted "Best Classical Music Festival" by readers of The Seattle Weekly. In 2015. Karen Iglitzin founded the intensive "Chamber Music Institute", starting in 1984, which was held every summer on the 65-acre property. Many teenagers came to live and get to study quartets intensively with the PSQ. There are countless alumni, many who are professional players today, who fondly remember their month-long camp, at "the farm". The name Olympic Music Festival was passed on to another organization, [9]but the original barn series remains as www.concertsinthebarn.org

Irv, Alan, Alexander Segal and Karen Iglitzin

The cellist Ariana Nelson is a granddaughter of Alan Iglitzin. She is a member of the Carpe Diem String Quartet; and thus the third generation of professional quartet players in the family. [2]. The Carpe Diem Quartet created a video story series that included tracing of their relatives arriving in America. Ms. Nelson's story follows Alan's dad, the ensuing history, and the through line to her career.[10]

- - - - - - - - -

History of performers:

1st violinists

CO-FOUNDER, Veda Reynolds, (b:1922-d: 2000) Served as 1st violinist from 1960-1975 [11]

Stanley Ritchie, from 1975-1981

Peter Marsh, from 1982-1983

Karen Iglitzin, from 1983-1987

Stefan Hersh, from 1988-1992

2nd violinists

CO-FOUNDER, Irwin Eisenberg (1919-2014) Served as 2nd violinist from 1960-2000 [12]

Roberta Hersh, from 1988-1992

Violist

CO-FOUNDER: Alan Iglitzin (b:1931) Served as violist from 1960-2000

Cellists

CO-FOUNDER, Charles Brennand (b:1929-d:1976) Served as cellist, 1960-1976 [13]

Carter Enyeart, 1976-1982

Roger Lebow, 1982-1984

Alexander Segal, 1985-1987

Jennifer Culp, 1988-1992


The name of the quartet has been revived by Violist Radhames Santos. A new web site has been made: Philadelphia String Quartet

References

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  1. ^ "Concerts in the Barn Quilcene, WA". Concerts in the Barn Quilcene, WA. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  2. ^ "PHILADELPHIA STRING QUARTET | THE NORTHWEST MUSIC ARCHIVES". nwmusicarchives.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  3. ^ "TimesMachine: Tuesday April 20, 1982 - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  4. ^ "26.11.1974 - Philadelphia String Quartet". www.kammermusik.org. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  5. ^ Christiansen, Kai. "George Rochberg String Quartet no.2". Earsense.
  6. ^ "Nov.1 1974 PSQ Program.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  7. ^ "Oct 10 1980 PSQ Program.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  8. ^ "Spokane Daily Chronicle - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  9. ^ "Olympic Music Festival". Olympic Music Festival. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  10. ^ "An American Story - Iglitzin". Carpe Diem String Quartet. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  11. ^ Güsewell, Angelika; Vivien, Rym; Terrien, Pascal (2021). "Bringing to light a pedagogical heritage: an ergo-didactic approach". McGill Journal of Education / Revue des sciences de l'éducation de McGill. 56 (2/3). ISSN 1916-0666.
  12. ^ "Irwin Eisenberg Obituary (1919 - 2014) - Seattle, WA - The Seattle Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  13. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/01/archives/charles-brennand.htm
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