WTN: Loire SBs, 98 St. Em, PG

Sunday Betsy’s quartet had a concert in Rye. A sizable crowd enjoyed the program- Dvorak's "American" Quartet and the a cool jazzy quartet by Peter Schikele (I knew he’s respected, but this is actually first non -PDQB piece I’ve heard, and I thought great). Then Kazuhide Isomura (violist of the Tokyo String Quartet) joined them for a wonderful performance of a Brahms viola quintet. There was a reception afterwards- couple of reds, a ruby port, a sherry, and a dry white. I tried the latter, the 2013 Sciarpa Pinot Grigio. Very light, modest acids, probably refreshing on a warm day, not much length. C+

Afterwards I took her to Saint George in Hastings. She had an assortment of oysters, then a salad with radishes, blue cheese, pears, & assorted greens) , then duck breast on cabbage (with bacon, it was a bit like duck choucroute though not pickled). I had pumpkin soup with pear followed by steak frites with a bordelaise sauce.

With her oysters, we got a glass of the 2013 Clement & Florian Berthier Sancerre. Medium bodied, fairly grassy, rounded but with enough acid to match well with the raw bar. B

I had carried the 1998 Vieux Chateau Chauvin (St Emilion). Smaller framed for a 98 RB, but there’s enough grip to keep it interesting. Dark berries, ferric notes, some leather and mocha. Could use a bit more length, but a nice wine for dinner. No need to hold this, drinking well now, B

Monday no wine for me with our falafel, as I was heading to city to take a group on a relief trip. Tonight we roasted a chicken with assorted vegetables (squash, mushrooms, fennel) along with a toasted quinoa pilaf and the 2013 Paul Buisse Sauvignon Blanc (Touraine). Quite dominated by gooseberry at first, some more pit & tropical fruit as it gets air. Light to mid bodied, enjoyable enough. B-/B.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Brahms Viola Quintet, that is a piece I have not heard. Must do some research in the downtown library!

Brahms Viola Quintet, that is a piece I have not heard. Must do some research in the downtown library!

Likewise, Dale, a Brahms "Viola Quintet" is not on my radar screen. Is it otherwise known as String Quintet, which happens to have a second viola? There seems to be two of these. I don't think I have a recording of them amongst my CDs and LPs, which I must remedy.

I didn't know that there were a Hastings and a Rye in your part of the USA. I know well the English towns with these names, because my mother was born in Hastings (about 15 miles from Rye) and she and my father subsequently retired there. Both Hastings old town and Rye are very picturesque to the extent of seeming too quaint to some tastes. I miss them; my last visit was in 1996, I think, the year my mother died.

It was String Quartet No. 2 in G Major, Opus 111. I used the lower case "viola quintet. " The naming convention is to use String Quintet in the name, but in conversation most musicians I know describe by the addition, either as a viola quintet or cello quintet, or the more rare bass or violin. In any case it's a beautiful piece and worth a listen if you can find a recording.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_Qui ... _2_(Brahms)

Lots of towns around here are named after English roots (plus a few like New Rochelle based on French Huguenot refugees).

Thanks Dale, I think this must be the piece Opus111.
Tim, where would you buy, through the internet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye2pDTJNm6U

Thanks Dale, I think this must be the piece Opus111.
Tim, where would you buy, through the internet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye2pDTJNm6U

Thanks Dale, thanks Bob,

Listening to the first few bars of Bob's link, that work is one of the very few of Brahms' big compositions with which I am not familiar. I'll listen to it all later. It's nice to "discover" something "new" on what I thought a well beaten track.

Sadly there seem to be very few specialist classical music record shops left. I used to enjoy long chats with their owners. Indeed I have yet to find one in Normandy. Many of the chains are closing down too; I think that the HMV shop in Oxford Street is no more. I buy mainly from Amazon though there is (or was until very recently) a good internet specialist called MDT from the UK but Amazon is more competitive on delivery (zero in France for orders above €25).

I note that there are many recordings of Op.111 listed by Amazon. I think that my choice will depend on the coupling, either the other string quintet or the wonderful clarinet quintet, my LP of which is getting very worn.

Great stuff, I too think the clarinet piece would be a nice compliment. The downtown library has a great Brahms selection of chamber music. Better check what I have here first .