Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
00:05 I. Andante moderato
07:18 II. Lento
14:30 III. Presto (attacca)
Performers are not conclusively known, but they seem to be: A. Puter, I. Miroslavski, violins; M. Sharanov, viola; R. Phurer, cello
Original audio from youtube.com/watch?v=NDoCx7KhQNU
Note that there are a few differences between the score and the recording, particularly toward the end; some might be due to a revised score and others possibly due to intonation.
Sulkhan Tsintsadze (სულხან ცინცაძე; 1925-1991) was a notable Georgian composer of the mid-20th century. Initially drawing positive interest from the Soviet musical establishment for bright folk-influenced works, in particular his early string quartets, Tsintsadze evolved his style into a more avant-garde one in the last thirty years of his life, although the polyphonic influence of Georgian traditional singing stayed with him. It was during this period, in 1970, that he composed his seventh string quartet, dedicated to the memory of Bela Bartok.
While Tsintsadze's own style is front and center in this engaging, wide-ranging quartet, the harmonic and textural nods to the dedicatee are hard to miss, creating a quite distinct language. The well-known Soviet composer Andrei Eshpai wrote that "Tsintsadze’s talent is amazingly harmonious and multi-faceted...each new composition manifests a new musical event." On the evidence of his works I've heard so far, I can't disagree!
If you enjoyed this work, I will also be uploading Tsintsadze's eighth string quartet soon.
00:05 I. Andante moderato
07:18 II. Lento
14:30 III. Presto (attacca)
Performers are not conclusively known, but they seem to be: A. Puter, I. Miroslavski, violins; M. Sharanov, viola; R. Phurer, cello
Original audio from youtube.com/watch?v=NDoCx7KhQNU
Note that there are a few differences between the score and the recording, particularly toward the end; some might be due to a revised score and others possibly due to intonation.
Sulkhan Tsintsadze (სულხან ცინცაძე; 1925-1991) was a notable Georgian composer of the mid-20th century. Initially drawing positive interest from the Soviet musical establishment for bright folk-influenced works, in particular his early string quartets, Tsintsadze evolved his style into a more avant-garde one in the last thirty years of his life, although the polyphonic influence of Georgian traditional singing stayed with him. It was during this period, in 1970, that he composed his seventh string quartet, dedicated to the memory of Bela Bartok.
While Tsintsadze's own style is front and center in this engaging, wide-ranging quartet, the harmonic and textural nods to the dedicatee are hard to miss, creating a quite distinct language. The well-known Soviet composer Andrei Eshpai wrote that "Tsintsadze’s talent is amazingly harmonious and multi-faceted...each new composition manifests a new musical event." On the evidence of his works I've heard so far, I can't disagree!
If you enjoyed this work, I will also be uploading Tsintsadze's eighth string quartet soon.
