The Boiling Hot Spring

The pieces contained in Arensky's Three Quartets, Opus 57 are quaint and accessible. These editions contain transliterations of the Russian (along with pronunciation guide), and an English translation which intentionally is more to the essence of the original poetry and a truer translation, rather than forcing a rhyme scheme at the expense of the integrity of the original text. The expressive imagery, with colorful depictions of nature and the stars, is heightened by the lyric solo cello. From soaring lines reflecting the mountains in "Serenada," to the use of the cello's upper register in "To the Extinguished Stars," to the running sixteenth notes mimicking "The Boiling Hot Spring," the cello does not play a mere accompaniment role. The pieces can be performed together or individually, a cappella in the absence of a cellist. However, employing the solo cello gives the performer and the listener the full visual and aural range of the expressive quality of these choral gems.