The LaSalle Quartet was founded in 1946 by primarius Walter Levin. They named themselves after the Manhattan street where they resided. For forty years they specialised themselves in modern composers, mainly the followers of the second Viennese school (Schoenberg, Webern). The second string quartet by György Ligeti, on this recording, was dedicated to them. Rosenbergs third string quartet was commissioned by them.
Earle Brown has the shortest piece on this record: his only string quartet from 1965. Brown has been very influential in the Downtown New York scene from the 80s, jazz composers like John Zorn (I would love a record from him!). Wolf Rosenberg was a German composer that was best known because of his work for radio stations in the south of Germany.