That would be A104 if you happen to be in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress and if a terrific string quartet happens to be performing. Last night, said terrific quartet (the Carducci) played Haydn, Moeran, and Beethoven. And I happened to be ensconced in A104.
"Haydn, Who?, and Beethoven," you ask? Exactly so. The LOC concerts promote "modern," that is, 20th century music. Almost all the concerts have 2 pieces that were written before Abe Lincoln was born and 1 piece that was written after my parents were born. Typically, the modern piece -- minute after minute after minute of discordant screeching and scratching -- is something the simply must be endured as the cost of hearing the other two. Moeran was a very welcome exception to that rule; his Quartet #2 (which he composed sometime between 1912 and 1950 -- how's that for precise dating?!) consists of lovely and lively English and Irish melodies.
Through the whole performance, I couldn't have been more than 10 feet from the beautiful young cellist as she flailed away with her bow. If it had slipped out of her hand, it would have landed right in my lap. And have I mentioned before that LOC concerts are free?
Here's a very staid snippet of the Carduccis doing some Haydn.
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