Presents
Emil Kreuz
String Quartet in d minor, Op.42
Emil Kreuz (1865-1932) was born in the German town of Elberfeld. He began playing violin at an early age and at age sixteen he won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London. His violin teacher was the well-known British soloist Henry Holmes and his composition teacher was Charles Villiers Stanford. Eventually he concentrated on perfoming on the viola and in England, where he settled for the rest of his life became known as a leading viola soloist as well as a member of some of Britain's finest string quartets. In later life, he pursued a career as an opera conductor. Additionally, he composed several chamber works, including a fair number for viola.
His String Quartet in d minor, Op.42 dates from 1895 and was dedicated to his fellow quartet members Richard Gompertz, Haydn Inwards and Charles Oulds. It was premiered by his quartet with him on viola in 1896. Despite stellar reviews, it soon disappeared from the concert stage. The opening movement, Allegro impetuoso, sounds as if beginning mid phrase. The themes show the influence of Brahms and the late German Romanitic movement. The stately and somewhat sad second movement, Adagio, has a song-like, lyrical feel to it. Third comes a bright, playful Presto. The finale, a genial and triumphant sounding Allegro vivace concludes the quartet.
Parts: $24.95
