What's New for Spring 2024
Click on the links in all caps and boldface for more details and soundbites
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 FERDINAND THIERIOT (1838-1919),
is one of those many fine Romantic era composers whose music though
often performed while they were alive soon disappeared not long
after their deaths. Thieriot studied with same teacher as his friend
Brahms, although his music sounds very different from that of
Brahms. In his charming
PIANO QUARTET NO.1 IN E MINOR,
one of his early youthful works, we hear echoes of Mozart, Schubert
and Weber. There are appealing melodies and good part-writing for
all. Good enough to be brought into the concert hall, it can be
especially recommended to amateurs looking for a fine work to
perform as it is not at all difficult to play. |
 LENNOX
BERKELEY (1903-1989) was one of the most important English
composers and teachers of the 20th century.
Although he studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, it was not her
teaching which influenced his musical thinking the most but rather
the composers he befriended while he was there, specifically Ravel,
Poulenc, Milhaud and Stravinsky. One finds elements of
neo-classicism in the works of his first period, including his
STRING TRIO which was completed in 1943. It is a work which is fresh and
full of
original-sounding ideas. It is not an exaggeration to say that this
is one of the finest modern string trios and every professional trio
ensemble would do well to bring it into the concert hall. This sad,
it is not beyond amateurs with experience of playing modern works. |
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 THEODORE
DUBOIS (1837-1924),
along with his almost exact contemporary
Camille Saint Saens, was one of the leading composers of the French
Romantic Movement. Dubois and Saint Saens both eschewed
Impressionism. It is surprising and inexpicable that his music is
not as well known as that of Saint Saens for it is every bit as
good. Fame is a fickle thing. His
TWO PIECES IN CANONICAL STYLE FOR OBOE, CELLO
AND PIANO are charming and appealing. Though written
for two virtuoso players who, like him, taught at the Paris
Conservatory, it is a work which is very easy to play and presents
absolutely no technical difficulties. A good choice for concert but
certainly a work which amateur should not pass up. |
 GEORGE
SZELL
(1897-1970) is known by most music lovers as one of the most
famous conductors of the 20th century. However, Szell was a child
prodigy of the first order, not only as a pianist, but also as a
composer. At the age of 14, he composed his
PIANO
QUINTET IN E MAJOR, a work which sounds like it was
written by a mature composer decades older than a mere child. So
impressed was the famous Vienna publishing firm Universal Editions,
that they gave the 14 year old boy a ten year contract for the exclusive
rights to publish his works. It would be no exaggeration to say that
this is a work of the first order, a masterwork deserving concert
performance. |
 The
Viennese violin virtuoso JOSEPH MAYSEDER (1789-1863), was by all
accounts from those who heard him play, the equal of any of the
leading virtuosi then active before the public.. He knew and gave
concerts with all of the leading players of the time including Hummel,
Beethoven, Czerny, Moscheles, Chopin, Schubert and Clara Schumann to
name but a few. Paganini, with whom he often played string quartets when
the Italian was in Vienna, thought highly of him. He was a very
accomplished composer as well and his chamber works were extremely
popular. Besides his work as a soloist, he was the leader of several
important string quartets. Chamber music was one of his main interests.
If you want to present a chamber work which will insure the audience
jumps to its feet shouting Bravo, you can do no better than performing his
STRING QUINTET NO.1 IN E FLAT MAJOR. |
 IGNAZ
LACHNER (1805-1895), the second
of the three famous Lachner brothers, was without doubt the one who had
the greatest gift for melody. That he might almost be called a second
Schubert was no accident for Lachner, during his time in Vienna, became
close friends with Schubert. His
STRING QUARTET NO.3 IN C MAJOR is a stellar example
of his melodic gifts. However, Lachner was not just a melodist, but also an expert in composition as the fine part-writing in
this quartet shows. Along with his other quartets, it enjoyed great popularity throughout the 19th
century. If brought into the concert hall, audiences will regard it as a
great treat. Amateurs also will get much pleasure from it. |
That the Italian composer VINCENZO DE MEGLIO (1825-1883) is not better known in part must be due to the fact that he lived his entire life in Naples, rarely traveling anywhere. But within Naples and envirions, he and his music enjoyed a considerable reputation. He was not only a composer but also as a popular and sought after concert and salon pianist. His ANDANTE AND ALLEGRO FOR PIANO TRIO, a work which sounds like it was written for the tastes of salon audiences is a perfect example of his talent. The part-writing balances all 3 voices masterfully. The melodies are highly appealing and while it certainly will do well in concert, it can be tackled by amateurs as well. |
ANTON
EBERL (1765-1807) who was
born in Vienna had the good fortune to study with Mozart with whom
he became a close friend. His works were often performed on the same
program as that of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven another one of his
good friends. His works so often passed for those of Mozart that he
had to publish disclaimers. His
The
Polish composer and violinist CHARLES DE KONTSKI (1815-1867)
was one of four brothers, all prominent Polish musicians, who
emmigrated to Paris after the unsuccessful 1831 Polish uprising
against Russian rule. Born Karol Katski, upon arrival in Paris, he
Frenchified his name. There, he struggled making his living as a
teacher and composer and finally achieving recognition during the
final decade of his life. His
Had
the Australian composer ALFRED HILL (1869-1960) been a
German, Austrian or Ameican composer, he and his music would
certainly be far better known than they are because his work is
first rate. At the Leipzig Conservatory, his teachers Carl Reinecke
and Hans Sitt, thought very highly of his compositional talent.
A prolific composer, chamber music played an important part of his
oeuvre. His