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Soundbites from 2007
Of CDs Reviewed in
We have provided synopsis reviews. Entire reviews can be found in the referenced issue. Soundbites are provided as educational examples of the comments in the reviews. Please note we do not sell CDs and these soundbites are not complete movements but only short clips which are reproduced under the educational and research fair use exception to U.S. Copyright Law—Title 17 Sec. 107. These soundbites can be listened to on line if you have DSL or cable or downloaded if you have dial-up service. The files are in MP3 format.
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COMPOSER, WORK, CD & ISSUE |
REVIEW SUMMARY |
SOUNDBITES |
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Edward Bache (1833-1858) Piano Trio in d minor, Op.25 CD: Dutton 7145 Reviewed Spring 2007 |
A rather good Mendelssohnian work by very promising young English composer. He handles all of the instruments quite well and puts together a rather appealing mid-romantic work. | |
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Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) Four Trios for 2 Violins & Cello, Op.54 No.2, 4-6 CD: Glossa 92200 Reviewed Summer 2007 |
The Op.54 trios are said to be the last he wrote for this combination. They date from 1797. All except No.2 are in four movements and all end with a fast movement rather than a minuet which was his earlier method of concluding such works. While there are some movements which have a bit of Spanish melody and rhythm. The part writing is good and not in the concertante style. No unreasonable demands are made of the cello. | |
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Anton Eberl (1765-1807) Grand Trio for Clarinet, Cello & Piano in Eb, Op.36 Sonata in Bb, Op.10 No.2 for Clarinet, Cello & Piano Quintet for Clarinet, 2 Violas, Cello & Piano, Op.41 CD: Ramee 0601 Reviewed Summer 2007 |
Grand Trio, despite its opus number is a late work. First class and Mozartean with good parts for all and captivating melodies. The Sonata is basically for clarinet & piano with cello doubling piano left hand. The Quintet is an early work more in the nature of a show piece for piano with only the clarinet getting some innings. |
Op.10 No.2-1st Op.10 No.2-2nd Op.10No.2-3rd |
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Anton Eberl (1765-1807) Sonata in a, Op.10 No.1 for Violin, Cello & Piano Sonata in Bb, Op.10 No.2 for Clarinet, Cello & Piano CD: Christophorus 77259 Reviewed Summer 2007 |
The Op.10 No.1 Sonata can also be played by the clarinet in lieu of the violin. The writing is similar to Op.10 No.2 in that the cello is relegated to doubling the piano left hand. |
Op.10 No.1-1st Op.10 No.1-2nd Op.10 No.1-3rd |
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Adolph Foerster (1854-1927) Serenade for Piano Trio, Op.61 CD: Albany Troy 692 Reviewed Spring 2007 |
This is an appealing. lush, very romantic work which could be performed in concert. Of modest size. | |
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Richard Franck (1858-1938) Piano Trio No.1 in b minor, Op.20 Piano Trio No.2 in E Flat, Op.32 CD: Audite 97.487 Reviewed Summer 2007 |
Piano Trio No.1 is a very appealing mid-Romantic work with good part writing and fine melodies. The opening Allegro is turbulent and impressive while the finale is a whirling tarantella. Trio No.2 sometimes show Brahmsian influence, especially in the exciting Scherzo. The finale features a four part fugue. |
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Henry Holden Huss (1862-1953) Piano Trio in d, Op.23 "The Munich" CD: Albany Troy 692 Reviewed Spring 2007 |
A major romantic work by an American composer who studied with Rheinberger. Really first rate. Fine writing with lovely themes. By turns exciting, dramatic and lyrical | |
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Wilhelm Kienzl (1857-1941) String Quartet No.1 in b flat minor, Op.22 String Quartet No.2 in c minor, Op.99 String Quartet No.3 in E flat Major, Op.113 CD: CPO 999 805 Reviewed Spring 2007 |
No.1 (1880) is turbulent and melodramtic, show the influence of Wagner. Though mostly very good there is some florid writing which is unnecessary. No.2 is extremely fine (from 1919), inspired by the loss of his wife and the "death" of Old Austria, and is a sad and angry work. Programmatic in the sense of Smetana's From My Life Quartet. No.3 (1928) is devoid of the anger and sense of loss of No.2 Tonally shows some affinity with Hugo Wolf & Richard Strauss and is clearly still in the romantic camp. A good work deserving of concert performance. | |
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Carl Loewe (1796-1869) String Quartet No.1, Op.24 No.1 String Quartet No.2, Op.24 No.2 CD: Musicaphon 56840 Reviewed Spring 2007 |
The so-called "Schubert of North Germany" strikes out here. No enticing melodies of the sort one finds in his songs. Melodic material threadbare although rhythmic effects at times are quite interesting. His modus operandi appears to be to repeat the same phrase many times before moving on to the next which is also repeated and repeated. Inspiration seems sadly lacking. | |
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Carl Reinecke (1824-1910) Wind Octet Op.216 Wind Sextet Op.271 CD: Etcetera 1155 Reviewed Spring 2007 |
Superb and mature works from late in his life. The Octet (1892) is full of ingratiating, original and ingenious themes. The writing shows a deft touch and mastery of the instruments. He creates noble sonorities which are rich and well-balanced. A really fine work. The same remarks can be applied to his Sextet (1905), written when he was 81. Very good use of the horns are made in this work. There even some modern touches which shows the old boy stayed mentally young. | Octet-Allegro |
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Joseph Guy Ropartz (1864-1955) String Quartet No.2 in d minor (1912) String Quartet No.3 (1922) String Quartet No.4 (1934) String Quartet No.5 (1940) String Quartet No.6 (1948) CD: Timpani 1C1099 and 1C1115 Reviewed Summer 2007 |
No.2 is densely scored, tonally austere, modern for the time, color palette shows influence of impressionists but without their warmth and lyricism. No.3 was intended for amateurs and is in a different style with the melodic lines more discernable. Style closer to the impressionists and with several interesting tonal effects. No.4 is the easiest to understand. Harshness of tone is banished with occasional flashes of Breton folk melody. No.5 is subtitled Quasi un fantasia. In four movements, though very short (15 minutes) it seems long because the movements are played without pause between them. No.6, though more substantial than Nos.3-5, does not represent any change in style. | |
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Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894) Octet for Piano, Winds & Strings Op.9 Quintet for Piano & Winds55 CD: Orfeo 422041A Reviewed Summer 2007 |
The Octet (Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello Bass, Flute, Clarinet & Horn) is an early work (1855) which was originally a piano concerto. Hence it is not surprising that the piano is used in a soloistic way against the orchestral grouping of the others. However, the thematic material is interesting. In the Schmannesque Quintet, while the piano is sometimes treated as a soloist, it is not as pronounced as the Octet and for the most part, the part-writing is good and in chamber music style. | Octet-Allegro |
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Mortimer Wilson (1876-1932) From My Youth for Piano Trio, Op.5 CD: Albany Troy 692 Reviewed Spring 2007
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A suite of eight miniature movements. Light weight, but clever and well written, he is able to convey exactly what he felt. Though slight, it is nonetheless ingenious. | |
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Nikolaus Zmeskall (1759-1833) String Quartet in g minor String Quartet in D Major CD: Hungaroton 32332 Reviewed Spring 2007 |
An accomplished amateur cellist and close friend of Beethoven wrote 13 unpublished Qts. Though they tend to be in the newer style of pioneered by Haydn and Mozart, in that they are not written in concertante style, they do not sound like those composers. Thematic material is ordinary, but the treatment is good and the music is not boring. These are competent works. |