The Märkl Quartet was a German

string quartet The term string quartet can refer to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century onwards wrote string quartets. The associated musical ensemble consists of two violinists ...

, which was based in Cologne from 1968 to 1991. It was named after the violinist

Josef Märkl Josef Märkl (16 January 1928 – 14 October 2010) was a German violinist, composer and music educator. He was a member of the radio orchestras in Munich, Stuttgart and Baden-Baden. Most recently he was concertmaster of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein ...

, who served as the string quartet's first violinist for the entire period.

History

The origins of the ensemble lie in the

Stross Quartet The Stross-Quartett (formerly "Quartet of the Cologne Student Period" and "Grümmer Quartet") was an important German string quartet from Cologne (1922-1931) and Munich (1934-1966) respectively. The quartet was named after the long-time primarius ...

, whose tradition was continued after the death of

Wilhelm Stross Wilhelm Stross (5 November 1907 – 18 January 1966) was a German violinist and composer. He was professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München and the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln as well as first violin of the Stross Quarte ...

in 1966 by the former ensemble members Josef Märkl and Rudolf Metzmacher, a cello professor. In addition to performances in the Federal Republic of Germany, the Märkl Quartet has undertaken concert tours to Austria, Belgium and Israel as well as to the US and Spain. On the occasion of the festivities for the 1976 bicentennial of the

United States Declaration of Independence The United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen States of America, is the pronouncement and founding document adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at Pennsylvania State House ...

, the quartet played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Märkl brought with his ensemble the String Quartets in D minor op. 45/1 (dedicated to Arno Breker) and E flat major op. 45/2 (dedicated to

Alfred Cortot Alfred Denis Cortot (; 26 September 187715 June 1962) was a French pianist, conductor, and teacher who was one of the most renowned classical musicians of the 20th century. A pianist of massive repertory, he was especially valued for his poeti ...

) by

Wilhelm Kempff Wilhelm Walter Friedrich Kempff (25 November 1895 – 23 May 1991) was a German pianist and composer. Although his repertoire included Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and Brahms, Kempff was particularly well known for his interpretations ...

as well as the

Variations Variation or Variations may refer to: Science and mathematics * Variation (astronomy), any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite, particularly of the moon * Genetic variation, the difference in DNA among individuals ...

on the

Brazilian National Anthem The "Brazilian National Anthem" ( pt, Hino Nacional Brasileiro) was composed by Francisco Manuel da Silva in 1831 and had been given at least two sets of unofficial lyrics before a 1922 decree by president Epitácio Pessoa gave the anthem its d ...

by David Korenschendler for the

premiere A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition. A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its first ...

. In his documentation for Kempff's string quartets in 1968 and for Korenschendler's Variations in 1985, Stegmüller cites the years of the premieres (''Quellenkataloge zur Musikgeschichte''. Vol. 40). Noetzel, Wilhelmshaven 2007, , . The repertoire of the quartet included the music of the First Viennese School, the

Romantic Romantic may refer to: Genres and eras * The Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement of the 18th and 19th centuries ** Romantic music, of that era ** Romantic poetry, of that era ** Romanticism in science, of that e ...

and the

New Music New music may refer to: Musical styles and movements Pre-20th century * Ars nova, musical style in 14th-century France and the Low Countries * '' Le nuove musiche'', collection of monody by Giulio Caccini * New German School, music style in late 1 ...

. Several recordings (Beethoven, Arriaga, Egk) were made.

Members

* 1. Violin: Josef Märkl (1968–1991) * 2. Violin: Hanns-Heinz Odenthal (1968/69), Bernhard Deffner (1969–1971), Toshi Takada (1971–1974), Susanne Wieck (1974–1977), Wolfgang Kick (1977–1979),

Key-Thomas Märkl Key-Thomas Märkl (born May 19, 1963) is a German-Japanese violinist and music educator. Biography Märkl began learning the violin at the age of five with his father, Josef Märkl. His brother Jun Märkl is a noted conductor. Among his solo ...

(1980/81 and 1990/91) and David Johnson (1981–1990) * Viola: Peter Pfuhl (1968–1970), Karl-Heinz Steeb (1970/71), Lutz Schröder (1971/72), Konrad Grahe (1972–1975), Ferdinand Erblich (1975/76), Bernhard Pietralle (1976–1986), Bernhard Oll (1986–1990) and Rüdiger Debus (1990/91) * Violoncello: Rudolf Metzmacher (1968–1980), Traugott Schmöhe (1980/81), Manfred Becker (1981–1990) and Guido Schiefen (1990/91)

Discography

Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical ...

: String Quartet op. 135 and 18/2 with the Stross Quartet (Aarton Music, 1983) *

Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish language, Spanish and Manx language, Manx versions of ''John (given name), John''. It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking communities around the world and in the Philippines, and also (pronoun ...

: Streichquartette Nr. 1 und 2 Es-Dur (Aarton Music, 1983) *

Werner Egk Werner Egk (, 17 May 1901 – 10 July 1983), born Werner Joseph Mayer, was a German composer. Early career He was born in the Swabian town of Auchsesheim, today part of Donauwörth, Germany. His family, of Catholic peasant stock, moved to Augs ...

: ''La Tentation de Saint Antoine'' and Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga: String quartet no. 3 E flat major with Marijke Hendriks (mezzo-soprano) (Aarton Music, 1983)

Literature

* Jürgen Stegmüller: ''Das Streichquartett. Eine internationale Dokumentation zur Geschichte der Streichquartett-Ensembles und Streichquartett-Kompositionen von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart''.''Das Streichquartett. Eine internationale Dokumentation zur Geschichte der Streichquartett-Ensembles und Streichquartett-Kompositionen von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart''
on Google Books (''Quellenkataloge zur Musikgeschichte''. Vol. 40). Noetzel, Wilhelmshaven 2007, , .

References

External links

* {{Authority control German string quartets Musical groups established in 1968 Musical groups disestablished in 1991