Insects & Machines: Quartets of Vivian Fung

Album Overview

2025 Chamber Music America Album of the Year

Release Date: October 27, 2023
Label: Sono Luminus
Duration: 56:22
Performed by the Jasper String Quartet

I. String Quartet No. 1
II. String Quartet No. 2
III. String Quartet No. 3
IV. String Quartet No. 4: “Insects and Machines”a

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“In place of the traditional string quartet's focus on allegros, adagios, and scherzos, Fung's treat personal interests and experiences as the foundation. The first and second reflect the influence of Asian folk music, the third a chant, and the fourth the sounds of buzzing insects she encountered while trekking through a Cambodian jungle. All such elements both individuate the works and accentuate the originality of Fung's vision.”

“the synergy between composer and quartet is palpable and deep to my mind. Each of the four quartets has its say in Modernist, Expressionist terms that convince, especially after a number of listens. There is a belonging to a rewarding set of aesthetic principals and an original, authentic sounding that one does not come across every day. Very recommended.” - Grego Applegate, Classical-Modern Music Review

“Suite No. 1’s arpeggiated opening is nicely unaffected, the closing “Gigue” a joyous stomp. Which makes Suite No. 2’s D minor opening all the more potent, Thorsteinsdóttir’s “Prelude” very dark indeed. Suites 3 and 4 are joyous – the former’s “Sarabande” really sings, and No. 4’s “Courante” skips along. Keep the disc playing and you’ll relish the 5th suite’s drop into C minor. Thorsteinsdóttir’s opening movement unfolds like an operatic aria, the theatricality wholly appropriate. No. 6 offers much-needed emotional relief, the final gigue a consolatory hug. Sono Luminus’s engineering is up to their high standards, the sound rich and immediate. Recommended.” - Graham Rickson, The Arts Desk

"Vivian Fung has long been a friend and admired composer of the Jasper String Quartet. The Quartet first performed one of her works in 2019, and we were immediately captivated by the visceral energy and impeccable craft of her writing. Vivian’s String Quartets Nos. 1–4 span 18 years of her career and reflect a remarkable journey of absorbing, integrating, and synthesizing a unique spectrum of influences into her compositional voice. Unwavering in all of the works is a fierce heart, instrumental fearlessness, and an amazing instinct for texture. We are incredibly grateful to have recorded these works with Vivian in the studio and for the growth we experienced in the process.”
- Jasper String Quartet

“This album is a testimonial to my lifelong adoration of strings, dating back to my beginning cello studies as a middle school student. My cello teacher introduced me to a wide-ranging repertoire and opened up my sonic world with the sound of string quartets, concerti, and Baroque instruments. The string quartet format, in particular, has gripped my imagination since writing Pizzicato, which I originally wrote as a standalone work and later incorporated as the third movement of String Quartet No. 1 and continues to be one of my most performed pieces. Many thank yous to the Jasper String Quartet for their dedication to this CD project; to my husband, son, and parents for their support; and to everyone at Sono Luminus for producing this wonderful album.”
- Vivian Fung