César Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor Context César Franck’s highly emotional Piano Quintet sits strongly beside the French composer’s most popular works. Premiered in 1880 by the Marsick Quartet and Camille Saint-Saëns at the piano, the quintet was dedicated to Saint-Saëns. Although now regarded as one of Franck’s best Read more…
Jean Sibelius: Andante Festivo Context Originally scored for string quartet in 1922, Sibelius’ poignant work Andante Festivo is also known for its re-orchestration for string orchestra and timpani. For the purposes of references in this blog, I will be referring to the original string quartet version. Although now fondly remembered Read more…
Nancy Dalberg: String Quartet No.1 Context Nancy Dalberg (1881-1949) was a Danish composer. A trained pianist, Dalberg had dreams of attending the Royal Conservatory in Copenhagen, but sadly her father refused her this. After being treated for a medical complication in her arm, Dalberg took up composition instead. She took Read more…
Bohuslav Martinů: String Sextet Context Bohuslav Martinů composed his String Sextet in under a week in May 1932. The sextet was popular and won awards, which surprised Martinů somewhat. Even though it was popular among Martinů’s contemporaries, the work itself was not published until 1947 – 14 years after it Read more…
Luigi Boccherini: String Quintet in E Major Context Luigi Boccherini composed his famous E major String Quintet in 1771, although it wasn’t officially published until 1775. During the 1770s, Boccherini largely exclusively wrote for the Font String Quartet, who had links to King Charles III of Spain and his brother, Read more…
George Enescu: Serenade Lointaine Context George Enescu composed his beautiful Serenade Lointaine for piano trio when he was only 21 years old. Although composed in 1903, the piece was never published, with it only in recent years being found and explored by a dedicated Enescu trio. There is very little Read more…
Germaine Tailleferre: String Quartet Context French composer Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) composed her String Quartet over a creative two-year period between 1917-1919. Tailleferre dedicated the work to the famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein. When the work was premiered in 1919, Tailleferre was invited to join Nouveaux Jeunes (later known as Les Six), Read more…
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence Context Composed as a response to being awarded an honorary membership of the Saint Petersburg Chamber Music Society in 1886, Tchaikovsky pledged that he would “write and dedicate to your society some sort of chamber music work.” Thus, Souvenir de Florence was born by Read more…
Louise Farrenc: Nonet in Eb Major Context Born in May 1804, French composer, pedagogue and concert pianist Louise Farrenc enjoyed a fruitful reputation during her lifetime. She learned under some of the best including Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Ignaz Moscheles.She also received composition lessons from Anton Reicha – a professor Read more…
Joseph Haydn: Piano Trio No.39 ‘Gypsy Rondo’ Context Composed in 1795, Joseph Haydn’s ‘Gypsy’ piano trio has remained one of his most popular chamber works. The nickname ‘Gypsy’ derives from the finale movement, which is a Rondo in a fiery Hungarian style. The trio was first published by Haydn’s English Read more…