Presents

Richard Hofmann

String Trio in G Major, Op.112

For 2 Violins and Viola

Richard Hofmann (1844-1918) was born in the German town of Delitzsch located about 10 miles north of the city of Leipzig. His father was the municipal music director and sent him to study at the Leipzig Conservatory, which had been founded by Mendelssohn, and was then considered the finest in Europe. There, he studied violin with Raimund Dreyschock one of the best violinists then active in Germany, and composition with Salomon Jadassohn, who along with Carl Reinecke and Joseph Rheinberger were the leading composition teachers of their time.

After graduating, he settled in Leipzig as a music teacher and eventually obtained the position of Professor for Instrumentation at the Leipzig Conservatory. He was also the director of the Leipzig Choral Society. He composed numerous instructive pieces for piano, strings and wind instruments. He was also the author of an important book on instrumentation. The Trio for 2 Violins and Viola dates from 1900. In four movements, it opens with an energetic Allegro risoluto which is then followed by a charming Andante con moto. The third movement is a fleet-footed Scherzo and the finale, Allegro giocoso, is a bit of a ‘barn-burner’, meaning a real exciting piece of music and a fitting conclusion to this attractive work.

This is a very effective and appealing work for this combination and as such is a valuable additon to the trio repertoire for 2 violins and viola. It is a good choice for concert but also presents no technical problems and can be warmly recommended to amateurs.

Parts: $19.95