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The Music of George Frederick McKay

2025ORC-10038120th Century, American Music, String Quartet

The boundary pushing Formosa Quartet continues its commitment to unexplored repertoire with their latest album featuring the first commercial recordings of string quartets by American composer George Frederick McKay (June 11, 1899-October 4, 1970). McKay was a prolific composer and author, born a year after Gershwin, whose music evokes “…a vigorous blend of influences, including Civil War Era folksongs sung to him by his grandparents; old Fiddlers’ Tunes handed down in the family; Northwest Native American Songs and Dances, and Avant-Garde satire from the Seattle urban scene” (George Frederick McKay Estate). The string quartet is said to be McKay’s favorite compositional form. Formosa Quartet’s release celebrates the 125th anniversary of his birth.

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