Bernard Chasan wrote:

>Lawrence Sherwood writes:
>
>>I bought a copy of an arrangement of it that totally changed my perception
>>of the work.  It was an arrangement for string quartet by a composer I've
>>come to appreciate in the past year, Robert Simpson, and was performed by
>>the Delme Quartet and released on the hyperion label (I think).  ...
>
>There are at least two other string quartet versions, by the Koch Quartet
>and the Julliard.  I wonder if they used the same arrangement, or changed
>keys.  I do not think that they did.  I do know that the Juiliard violist
>used an instrument specially built to give an extended low range - an
>approach taken over the quartet which appears in Seth's novel, "An Equal
>Music".

I havent heard the Delme Qt.  but I would suggest the recording by the
Keller Quartet which I find far superior over the Juilliards (with due
respect to this great ensemble but I dont think their Bavch is *anywhere*
near their Beethoven, for instance, or their Bartok for that matter - which
holds up well compared to the Kellers version).  There are also interesting
(and sometimes beautiful) arrangements for saxophone quartet, brass
quartet, recorder quartet etc., by no means just to be dismissed as
eccentricities.

>THE orchestral arrangement is the work of Scherchen, preserved in more
>than one recording.

There are *five*, it seems of which I have two (and would like to acquire
the others; anybody any suggestions?).  Scherchens AoF is my favourite
these days (although there is always old Leonhardt of course), especially
the sombre brooding 1949 version with the Beromunster (!) Symphony
Orchestra.  For another view from around the same time Ristenparts
recording (OOP, as far as I know) is an interesting comparison while more
recently Marriners effort is well worth hearing.

Philip