With this release the Tippett Quartet completes its survey of “official” string quartets by Stephen Dodgson, whose nine (so far) works confirm his prowess in the medium no less readily than do the piano sonatas or orchestral “Essays”. Among the three featured here, the six-movement Second Quartet (1987) recalls Shostakovich’s Ninth in its succession of short and contrasted genre pieces, given focus by the larger-scale finale that infuses previous ideas with a momentum that John Warrack aptly describes as “dancelike” in his booklet notes. The Eighth Quartet (2005) consists of three movements, with an oblique sonata-piece followed by the deftest of intermezzos, before a nine-minute chaconne inhabits altogether tougher and more implacable territory. The Ninth Quartet (2006) might be thought more conventional in its demeanour: here an understated Andante precedes a truculent Scherzo and then an eloquent slow movement, before the Alla marcia finale emerges as a march-fantasy whose often quixotic progress leaves an (intentional?) sense of ambivalence towards the close.

A second disc further extends coverage of Dodgson’s chamber output. The String Sextet (1996) also features a Chaconne, though this time a relatively urbane one to balance the robust Praeludium and ingenious “Scherzo and Shadow”. The Flute Quintet (2003) is the lightest and most classical piece here, notwithstanding a central slow movement of affecting pathos, while the Clarinet Quintet (2007) purposefully intensifies as its four movements contract – ending with a finale of driving energy. Idiomatic performances and warmly immediate recording, making for a fine conclusion to this worthwhile series.