I appreciated most of all the ability of Tchaikovsky to imbue the piece with mood and emotional power. Even if the "Meditation" is a slow piece that languishes at times, it is one that aptly reflects the mood the composer intended. Moreover, the performers executed the composition with aplomb.

Dvorak's "String Quintet in G Major, Op. 77" is in many ways easier to listen to than Tchaikovsky's "Meditation." The latter feels emotionally painful, whereas Dvorak's seems more like a fun folk dance. Repeating riffs and familiar sonic elements that continue throughout the five movements anchor the listener with hooks, and some of the musical elements are reminiscent of modern music. For example, the liberal use of plucked string instruments in the fifth movement reminds me of those elements in rock music even though the context is different. Similarly, the use of riffs and other repeating elements is reminiscent of rock...
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