Giacomo Puccini: I Crisantemi Context Although mainly celebrated for his operas and vocal pieces, Giacomo Puccini also wrote a handful of works for chamber ensembles. Puccini had an affinity with the string quartet, which was something he experimented a lot with whilst studying at conservatory. 1890 was the year he Read more…
Arnold Schoenberg: Notturno for Strings and Harp Context Composed in 1895, Arnold Schoenberg’s Notturno for Strings and Harp combines unusual scoring with a side of Schoenberg’s earlier style that people don’t always remember. This single-movement work set in Ab is scored for solo violin, harp and small string orchestra. There Read more…
Benjamin Britten: Phantasy Quartet Context Composed whilst Benjamin Britten was studying at the Royal College of Music, Phantasy Quartet was premiered in August 1933 as a BBC broadcast. Subtitled ‘Quartet in one movement for oboe, violin, viola and violoncello’, the interesting orchestration makes it one of Britten’s stand-out chamber works. Read more…
Ruth Crawford-Seeger: Suite for Wind Quintet Context Born on July 3rd, 1901, Ruth Crawford spent her early life in East Liverpool, Ohio. Throughout her childhood, the Crawford’s moved around a lot, from Ohio to Missouri to Indiana. In 1912, the Crawford’s moved to Florida, where Ruth’s father passed away two years Read more…
Sergei Prokofiev: String Quartet No.1 Context Sergei Prokofiev composed his first string quartet in 1931 as a commission from the Library of Congress. The quartet premiered in Washington D.C. in April of the same year by the Brosa Quartet. The Russian premiere came later in the year in October, this Read more…
Sergei Prokofiev: Sonata for Two Violins Context Sergei Prokofiev composed his Sonata for Two Violins in 1932 for a commission from Triton, a new Paris-based society dedicated to showcasing new chamber music. The inaugural concert took place in December of the same year. With the permission from the commissioner, Prokofiev Read more…
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Context Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik was composed in 1787 at the same time as he was writing the music for his opera Don Giovanni. The title translates to ‘A Little Serenade’, although it is also known as ‘A Little Night Music’. Originally, Read more…
Gabriel Fauré: Piano Quartet No.2 Context Gabriel Fauré composed his Second Piano Quartet between 1885-86, and it premiered in January 1887 at the Société Nationale de Musique. The quartet was published soon after the premiere performance and was dedicated to Hans von Bülow. The quartet is one of only two Read more…
David Diamond: Rounds for String Orchestra Context David Diamond (1915-2005) was an American composer who studied in New York and Paris. He wrote a range of works including 10 string quartets and 11 symphonies. Although Diamond didn’t receive the popularity that some of his American contemporaries did, his works are Read more…
Henryk Górecki: Harpsichord Concerto Context Henryk Górecki’s Harpsichord Concerto was composed at the request of Andrzej Chłopecki, head of Polish Radio Music Station. The commission came in 1980 at a time when Górecki was exploring pure instrumental music after more than a decade of dedicating himself to vocal and choral Read more…