In a world where classical music often reflects the past, the ConTempus Quartet is forging a path into the future. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Michigan-based ensemble is dedicated to elevating underrepresented music, particularly by living composers and women.
The ConTempus Quartet proudly identifies as an “all-female quartet performing in a medium historically shaped by male composers and performers.” To commemorate their milestone, they have released a new album featuring works by three distinguished female composers: Florence Price, Fernande Decruck, and Ivette Herryman Rodriguez.
Each composition on the album tells a unique story. Florence Price’s String Quartet no. 2 in A Minor was unearthed from a trunk of hand-written scores in a neglected house south of Chicago during renovations in 2009. These invaluable scores, now part of Price’s archives at the University of Arkansas, have since been published and recorded, including this quartet alongside a symphony and two violin concertos.
Notably, Price’s quartet incorporates a Juba movement, a dance with roots in West Africa, alongside elements of blues and traditional spirituals, all woven into a classical framework.
Another highlight is the Suite dans le style ancien pour quator à cordes by French composer Fernande Decruck. Born near Toulouse, Decruck was a contemporary of Price and studied at the Paris Conservatory. Known for her saxophone works, this suite is believed to be her only string quartet, featuring baroque dance forms like the courante, sarabande, and gigue. The ConTempus Quartet accessed scans of the original manuscript to bring this piece to life.
Completing the album is the String Quartet No. 1 by Cuban-born Ivette Herryman Rodriguez, commissioned by ConTempus. This piece draws inspiration from the other two works on the album, merging them with Rodriguez’s contemporary style. The quartet’s movements, titled “Chorale and Variations,” “Nostalgia: una mirada al pasado” (a look at the past), and “Montuna: Una mirada a mi tierra” (a look at my land), convey a deep sense of reflection and connection to heritage.
Titled “Strings Intertwined,” the album represents a musical dialogue that transcends generations, offering listeners a rich tapestry of sounds and stories.
