In regard to Ropartz, a CD of whose chamber music was mentioned in the
"Recent Acquisitions" thread, I wonder if anyone knows anyone at Timpani
who might know if a followup CD, perhaps to contain, say, his 3rd and 6th
quartets, might be planned...  The 6th, especially, I can say without any
reservation whatsoever, is fantastic.  4 movements (F/a/D/F), the second
of them a scherzo with a very, very strange trio (has anyone heard d'Indy's
suite op. 24?) (the bitonality of that work's minuet's trio is what I have
in mind..) and a lovely, deep slow movement (where the viola quite fails to
resolve nicely in the end, too...) - and to top it off, a very sprightly
finale, opening pizz.  and with a memorable central fugato.  It's very
unlike the better-known 3rd symphony, harmonically a good deal stranger,
and sticks in the mind, I think, persistently.  Just my personal opinion,
though.  (My failure to mention the first movement at any length is not to
be held against it..  not at all.  Not only tuneful, but the lead-up to the
recapitulation is tense and masterful..)

-Eric Schissel