Presents
Paul Wranitzky
String Quartet in A Major, "Roudnice" World Premiere Edition
Paul Wranitzky (1756-1808 Pavel Vranický in the Czech form) was born in the town Nová Ríše (then Neureisch) in Moravia. At age 20, like so many other Czech composers of that period, he moved to Vienna to seek out opportunities within the Austrian imperial capital. Wranitzky played a prominent role in the musical life of Vienna. He was on friendly terms and highly respected by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven who preferred him as the conductor of their new works. Wranitzky was, as so many of his contemporaries, a prolific composer. His chamber works number over 100. Although some scholars believe that Wranitzky studied with Haydn, there is no proof of this. But there can be no question that he studied and was influenced by Haydn’s quartets. Like Haydn, Wranitzky’s quartet writing went through many stages of development beginning with the pre-classical and evolving to the finished sonata form of the late Vienna Classics.
The score to the Quartet in A Major was discovered among the manuscripts which were found in the library of Prince Lobkowitz at his estate in the Bohemian town of Roudnice on the Labe by Dr Jetrinka Peskova. This quartet was the fifth of a set of six, two of which are lost. The set is without opus number. Dr. Peskova selected the score to this quartet, which was published some 40 years ago by Musica Antiqua Bohemica, as representative of Wrantizky's early style. Like several of Haydn's early quartets, it is in three movements: Allegro non troppo, Andante con variazione and Rondo, allegretto.
Senior editors Garik Hayrapetyan and Raymond Silvertrust created the parts and edited the score. This is a historically important work. The style suggests that it was composed sometime around 1780. Certainly it could be presented in concert but also recommended to amateurs.
Parts: $24.95
Parts & Score: $31.95
