Searching for an American Sound: The Dover Quartet on NPR

When the Dover Quartet, one of the world’s most in-demand chamber ensembles, asked Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate to compose a new work inspired by Native American traditions, he turned to the woodland creatures venerated by his own Chickasaw Nation. The results, Woodland Songs, is the title work of the group’s new album.

The Dovers and Tate recently appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition. Cellist Camden Shaw describes working with Tate as a "great balance of being very demanding for what he wanted to hear, but also allowing us to be ourselves and feeling like we're all on the same team."

“When you think about what is American and what this music represents, what is the album sort of meant to do?,” asked host Leila Fadel.

“It reminds me of something, Jerod said, which really touched me,” said Shaw. “That all people come from ancient cultures, that there are these long threads of connection in art and thinking and feeling that go way back for all of us. And the desire really as the core of this album was to explore connections between things musically that have existed on this continent for a very, very long time. You can hear references to, like, bluegrass styles...”

The critically acclaimed Woodland Songs also includes Tate’s new string-quartet orchestration of Rattle Songs, by the Indigenous singer Pura Fé, originally for her a cappella vocal group Ulali. Dvořák’s “American” Quartet completes the album, available now via the Curtis Studio label on Apple Classical and all major streaming platforms.

Read the NPR piece and listen to the full conversation HERE.

Stream Woodland Songs HERE.

Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate; Pura Fé

"Reimagining the American Art Form": Dover Quartet on the Cover of 'Strings' Magazine

Cover of Sept/Oct 2025 issue of Strings

The Dover Quartet is on the cover on the September/October 2025 issue of Strings magazine. Formed at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in 2008, the foursome—today consisting of Joel Link, violin; Bryan Lee, violin; Julianne Lee, viola; and Camden Shaw, cello—have become "one of the most acclaimed ensembles of its generation," writes Tom May. Their most recent album, Woodland Songs, includes the world premiere recordings of the title piece, which the quartet commissioned from the renowned Chickasaw-American composer Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate, and of Tate's orchestration of Pura Fé's Rattle Songs.

From the start, the ensemble members have maintained a vital connection to their alma mater as quartet-in-residence, carrying forward a lineage once held by the legendary Guarneri Quartet. This summer’s release of Woodland Songs on the Curtis Studio label—an in-house initiative showcasing original recordings by Curtis-affiliated artists—caps the conservatory’s 100th anniversary season, underscoring how deeply intertwined the Dover Quartet remains with the institution that launched its career. The album combines new commissions with a fresh account of Dvořák’s Op. 96 “American” Quartet.

“There’s a sense of rhythmic groove in both Jerod’s Woodland Songs and in the Ulali Rattle Songs that can be found all over the place in the ‘American’ Quartet,” observes Shaw. “Mere seconds into the ‘American,’ there is a transition motive in D minor with a pulsing rhythm in the second violin that is almost certainly a rattle song or similar Native tune. Dvořák’s profound slow movement is also almost certainly from a traditional melody—perhaps slowed down and put in a new meter to explore it differently.”

Read the full piece here.

Find out more about the Dover Quartet, including all upcoming performances, at doverquartet.com.

Dover Quartet and Curtis Studio Present “Woodland Songs”: Music of Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate, Pura Fé, and Dvořák

World premiere recordings of Tate's Abokkoli' Taloowa' (Woodland Songs), commissioned by the Dover Quartet, and Tate’s orchestration of Pura Fé’s Rattle Songs, available August 15 via Curtis Studio

—Watch album trailer here—

New York (July 31, 2025) — The two-time GRAMMY-nominated Dover Quartet, declared one of the greatest string quartets of the last 100 years by BBC Music Magazine and “the next Guarneri Quartet” by the Chicago Tribune, releases Woodland Songs: Music of Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate, Pura Fé, and Dvořák on August 15 via Curtis Studio, the recording label of the Curtis Institute of Music, where the quartet was formed in 2008 and serves as the Penelope P. Watkins Ensemble in Residence.

“This album is, at its heart, an exploration of the rich inheritance of music from the North American continent,” wrote the members of the Dover Quartet in a joint statement. “While the three works contrast each other substantially in style, expression, and historical context, they all share the common influence of music native to North America. Each piece exists in its own sonic and textural world, while informing and enriching the way we listen to the others.” 

The album features the world premiere recording of Abokkoli' Taloowa' (Woodland Songs) by the Chickasaw-American composer Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate, and of his orchestration for string quartet of Rattle Songs, by the Tuscarora/Taino singer-songwriter Pura Fé, a founding member of the Native women’s a cappella group Ulali. Both modern artists find inspiration from the traditional music of their respective tribes and traditions, but also imbue their music with wholly original ideas.

Dover Quartet | from left to right: Joel Link (’11), violin; Julianne Lee (violin ’05), viola; Camden Shaw (’10, ’11), cello; Bryan Lee (’11), violin

That was also the case for Antonín Dvořák when he composed the String Quartet No. 12 in F major, “American,” in 1893, while vacationing in a Czech immigrant community in Spillville, Iowa. Though, of course, Dvořák was not of Native heritage, his aim for the piece was to inspire an “American” sound. Like in his famous Symphony No. 9, Dvořák was drawn to the music of American traditions, blending them with his own musical roots.

Commissioned* for the Dover Quartet, Abokkoli' Taloowa' (Woodland Songs) is a modern Chickasaw composition about animals from Tate’s Southeastern homelands, where traditional woodland animals are so revered that family clans are named after them and each animal has a special ethos. Tate, whose own family is Shawi' Iksa'—Raccoon Clan, represents five woodland animals with his piece: Squirrel, Woodpecker, Deer, Fish, and Raccoon. “Each movement is like an epitome—a deep, dramatic, and rhapsodic expression of my feelings of being a Chickasaw man from a beautiful and robust culture,” he writes in his program note. “I encourage each listener to create their own emotional story of each animal and imprint these legends into their hearts.”

Woodland Songs is full of Chickasaw melodies and rhythms. Sometimes these elements appear very clearly, when melodies soar above the ensemble; sometimes they are abstracted into the texture of the quartet and hidden inside the spirit of each animal. “I allow myself to fluidly dance between cultural clarity and modern expressionism,” Tate continues. “I am deeply inspired by our modern Native artists, choreographers, authors, and filmmakers—each proudly expressing their individual identity within rich ancestry.”

Rattle Songs is a suite that Pura Fé composed for Ulali. The group’s 1994 album Mahk Jchi (Our Hearts), which includes the original vocal version, modernizes Native songs through innovative arrangements and rich harmonies. The piece brings together songs from different parts of Indian Country and brilliantly couches them in traditional woodland shell-shaking styles.

Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate; Pura Fé

“[Ulali’s] work had a powerfully deep impact on my personal vision as a Native composer,” says Tate. He shares a passion for Mahk Jchi with Camden Shaw, the Dover Quartet’s cellist, who asked Tate to make the orchestration. “I have created these orchestrations that are classically impressionistic in a postmodern style,” says Tate. “I make no deliberate attempt to imitate the exact sound of rattles from the original songs; rather, I have created a new home for them in the string quartet. Pura Fé created Rattle Songs as a homage to her Native North American cousins and it is my hope that my orchestrations create another layer of honoring our people.”

 *Abokkoli' Taloowa' (Woodland Songs) and the orchestration of Rattle Songs were commissioned for the Dover Quartet by Curtis Institute of Music and the following co-commissioners: Arizona Friends of Chamber Music; Cal Performances, UC Berkeley; Carnegie Hall; Chamber Music Houston; Chamber Music Northwest; Chamber Music Pittsburgh; Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth; Friends of Chamber Music Denver; Kingston Chamber Music Festival; Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music; and Shriver Hall Concert Series.

For more information, please visit doverquartet.com, curtis.edu/WoodlandSongs, and jerodtate.com.

Dover Quartet and Curtis Studio Present Woodland Songs: Music of Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate, Pura Fé, and Dvořák 

Rattle Songs, by Pura Fé, orchestrated by Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate

1. No. 1, Shanoojhee

2. No. 2, Viri Kuta

3. No. 3, Haweheemo

4. No. 4, Grammah Easter's Lullaby

5. No. 5, For the Pepper (In Memory of Jim Pepper)

6. No. 6, Women’s Shuffle

7. No. 7, Great Grandpa’s Banjo

Abokkoli' Taloowa' (Woodland Songs), by Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate

1. No. 1, Fani' (Squirrel)

2. No. 2, Bakbak (Woodpecker)

3. No. 3, Issi' (Deer)

4. No. 4, Nani' (Fish)

5. No. 5, Shawi' (Raccoon)

String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, B. 179, “American,” by Antonín Dvořák

1. I. Allegro ma non troppo

2. II. Lento

3. III. Molto vivace

4. IV. Finale. Vivace ma non troppo

Performed by Dover Quartet

• Joel Link, violin

• Bryan Lee, violin

• Julianne Lee, viola

• Camden Shaw, cello

• Executive producer: Vince Ford

• Producer: Alan Bise

• Recording engineer: Drew Schlegel

• Mastering engineer: Alex Santilli

• Atmos engineer: Stan Kybert

• Assistant producers: Daniel J. Armistead, Vince Ford

• Liner notes: Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate, Daniel J. Armistead

• Recorded: September 13–14, 2024; January 8–9, 2025 in Gould Rehearsal Hall at Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, PA

• Release date: August 15, 2025

From left to right: Camden Shaw, Julianne Lee, and Joel Link, recording Dvořák’s “American” Quartet in
Gould Rehearsal Hall at the Curtis Institute of Music, September 13–14, 2024

Chicago Classical Review: With a new violist, the Dover Quartet delivers remarkable playing at Winter Chamber Music Festival

Chicago Classical Review
By Lawrence A. Johnson

There have been occasions when the Winter Chamber Music Festival has really lived up to its name. 

In the festival’s early days, during a Brahms piano quartet performance by Daniel Barenboim and CSO members Chicago was hit with a massive blizzard, leaving the audience to depart, musically warmed but with an hours-long drive home.

Friday’s ominous, click-bait weather reports suggested a similar fate for the evening’s festival concert by the Dover Quartet. As it turned out, the day’s early snow and rain cleared up by concert time allowing a near-capacity audience to make its mucky way to Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston.

That was fortunate for the Dover Quartet delivered a remarkable performance, one of the finest chamber events heard in recent years.

Read more here.

The Berkshire Edge: Preview: Dover String Quartet in new lineup at South Mountain, October 15

The Berkshire Edge
By David Noel Edwards

Pittsfield — Up until just a few weeks ago, the Dover String Quartet’s reputation was excellent. But now it is about to soar, as Julianne Lee has departed the Boston Symphony Orchestra to join the group as violist. Lee played in the BSO’s first desk of second violinists, having joined the orchestra in her early 20s before she had even graduated from New England Conservatory. A wunderkind of staggering talent, Lee plays violin and viola with equal ease.

All members of the Dover Quartet studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia’s uber-elite school for prodigies. So, yes, they all play at Lee’s level. Still, notwithstanding their proximity at Curtis to innumerable viola virtuosos, they must be pinching themselves over their extraordinary luck at welcoming Lee into their group.

Read more here.

Vail Daily: Meet Your Musician Bravo! Vail Edition: Dover Quartet

Vail Daily
By Tricia Swenson

Q: What is your name/your ensemble’s/orchestra’s name?
A: We are the Dover Quartet. We formed at the Curtis Institute of Music, and our name pays tribute to “Dover Beach” a song written by fellow Curtis alumnus Samuel Barber.

Q: What instrument(s) do you play?
A: Joel Link, violin; Bryan Lee, violin; Hezekiah Leung, viola; Camden Shaw, cello

Q: How long have you been performing? How long have you been with your current orchestra or ensemble?
A: We formed in 2008 with Joel, Bryan, and Camden as founding members. Hezekiah has been touring with the group this year and violist Julianne Lee will be joining the quartet in September 2023.

Q: How long have you been coming to the Bravo! Vail Music Festival?
A: Our first performance at Bravo! Vail was in 2014, and we look forward to visiting every time we get the opportunity! We’ve made some amazing memories here in the summertime.

Read more here.

Strings: New Dover Quartet Violist Julianne Lee Describes ‘Natural Synergy’ with Founding Members

Strings
By Laurence Vittes

Beginning in September 2023, Julianne Lee, currently assistant principal second violin of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and principal second violin with the Boston Pops, will take up her new role as violist of the Dover Quartet. She will join the founding members—violinists Joel Link and Bryan Lee and cellist Camden Shaw—and replace Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, who left last August.

Lee began playing viola during her third year at Curtis, when she learned about Curtis’ Viola for Violinists program. The program led her to continue viola studies while she pursued her master’s degree at New England Conservatory, studying with violist Kim Kashkashian. Lee has since forged a career as both a violinist and violist, frequently appearing as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player.

Read more here.