Presents
Halina Krzyzanowska
String Quartet in A Major, Op.44
Halina Krzyzanowska (1867-1937) was born in Paris to Polish parents. Her father went into exile, having taken part in an uprising against the Russian occupiers. She was trained as a pianist at the Paris Conservatory where she won prizes both for her playing and compositions. For many years, she enjoyed a reputation as one of the leading concert pianists before the French public and her compositions were published by some of the leading publishing houses of Paris. She eventually became a professor of music at the Conservatory in Rennes where she lived the rest of her life.
Her String Quartet in A Major dates from 1920. It was dedicated to William Cantrelle, the first violinist of the quartet that premiered the work. The opening movement, Allegro commodo, is genial and quite lyrical showing a kind of late romanticism fo the sort favored by the French Impressionists. The middle movement, Andante, begins with a lovely, melancholy theme, which almost sounds like a plaint. In the bright, upbeat finale, Allegro vivace, the mood lightens. Here and there tinges of Debussy can be heard.
This is an appealing and attractive work with fine part writing by one of the few woman composers of the French Impressionist school. It deserves concert performance and can be recommended to amateurs as well.
Parts: $24.95
