The Roth Quartet was founded by Feri Roth in Budapest in 1922. The group enjoyed a successful début in Paris in 1924, then set off on a tour of Europe and Africa, and re-organised into the line-up featured on this CD in 1928. On an invitation from Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge they undertook their first trip to the USA, at the Pittsfield (Massachusetts) Music Festival, following which they toured the USA, Canada and Mexico. Soon afterwards, because of the rise of fascism in Europe, they became permanent US residents. They gave concerts at the Library of Congress, and introduced many modern works to American audiences at concerts in New York and Washington. In 1937 the Roths joined the faculty of Westminster Choir College, Princeton University, New Jersey. However in 1939 the group was disbanded and re-formed by Feri Roth.

After several more years of touring during which their reputation was continually enhanced, the new ensemble settled in Los Angeles and were appointed as the Chancellor’s String Quartet in Residence at UCLA. The Roths appeared at the Buffalo Chamber Music Society for most of the years 1929-1940, the current line-up appearing between 1934 and 1938, the date of this recording. Among their very numerous engagements, they also played for the Community Arts Association of Santa Barbara, CA in 1930.

The Quartet championed modern music and gave the first performance of many works. Outside university campuses, they continued to tour throughout the USA and Canada and also visited the UK. In 1969 the group was contracted to give a complete Beethoven quartet cycle, but the tour had to be cancelled owing to Feri Roth’s death.

The Roth Quartet recorded 35 albums for Columbia Records (USA) and 5 for the Society for Forgotten Masterpieces. In their recorded legacy, this recording of the Harris/Norton transcription of The Art of Fugue has been described as “especially important”.