String Quartet, 2, : Petersen Q +p.haas: String Quartet, 2,

The Janacek 2nd String Quartet is a complex work, full of passion and virtuosity. The Petersen Quartet provides an extremely spacious yet energized performance here, giving the work the full range of emotions it warrants. Ponticello passages are played almost recklessly, and pauses seem like dark holes that the music must try to fill. Janacek first titled this work "Love Letters" but then changed the name because he didn't want to expose himself to public scrutiny. However, the music itself, particularly in this excellent performance, betrays his feelings more than any title could.
Pavel Haas' Quartet is also an interesting work. Haas, like Janacek, incorporates Czech folk music, though the Haas is lighter in character and structure. In the second movement, Haas uses glissandi and humorous dynamics to musically portray the swaying motions of a horse cart along a mountain trail. The last movement uses jazzy rhythms, and even incorporates percussion. Haas received much criticism for the last movement and after the premiere he removed the percussion part. This performance is of the original, and thus the percussion is included here. Again the Petersen gives a solid performance.