On hearing Peter Ré's three String Quartets (1957, 1968, and 1987) and his Divertimento for piano trio (1976), many listeners will find that they bear a striking resemblance to the music of
Paul Hindemith. Ré studied with him at Yale in the late '40s, and whole-heartedly adopted his modified tonality, rigorous counterpoint, and serious neo-Classical attitude. As a result, his music shows many obvious aspects of
Hindemith's methods, most positively in the quartets' clear-cut forms, resilient melodies, and coherent ideas. Yet less successful features are also in evidence in their academic developments, unadventurous harmonies, and thick textures, with little distinction between the voices; the dominant technique in these works is fugal, so the four parts are excessively imitative and insufficiently separated. In all important details, Ré's music could pass for his teacher's, so anyone who enjoys this conservative style or at least respects it may find this 2006 release from Albany worthwhile. The performances of the quartets by the
Portland String Quartet are solid and expressive, and the rendition of the Divertimento by violinist Graybert Beacham, cellist Susan Poliacik, and pianist Cheryl Tschanz is warm and lively, with spontaneous repartee. The sound of this CD is slightly variable, due to the different venues and session dates, but clear and resonant overall, and there are only a few minor audience noises in the live recording of the Divertimento.