Dear All
Just found this website and hope some kind individuals may help me.
Had a long term interest in listening to classical music, knowing what my ears liked not the formal musical terms. Recently I have found myself in a gradually developing caring role, do not get out much and fallen back on my long-standing interests of listening to music and reading fiction.
My query regards piano quintets. Love Schumann, Dvorak, Elgar, Brahms, Dohanny, Faure, etc. What I guess you would call the main stream or well known examples. Now imagine you wanted to step off that beaten track and roam down some back waters. What would you recommend and more interestingly why? Any rely would be very welcome.
On a slightly different note can you recommend a book which gives a background to the main composers. Not a huge book on one composer, not one which really goes into great technical detail on their music, etc. Say about twenty pages on each main stream composer, a starting point to branch out from. For example I now know one of Mendelssohn's last string quartets is angst driven, reflecting the recent death of his loved sister. It just put that quartet into context when I found out that fact. Again any guidance would be much appreciated. Caring is demanding but quiet evenings I wish to fill with interests I can drop at a moment's notice then pick up again when time allows, gradually building my knowledge.
Many thanks for taking the time to read my post. Taking the time to reply would be very much appreciated.
Hello Whisperer and welcome to GMG.
For a general book on composers, I could recommend this one (about 15 to 30+ page per composers - check the Look Inside link for the table of contents) :
[asin]1848311354[/asin]
Hello, Whisperer, and welcome.
Have no idea if music of Alfred Schnittke will be appealing, but his Piano Quintet (1976) is one of his best works. He wrote it after the death of his mother, and it is filled with contrasting emotions.
There are many fine recordings to choose from, such as this one with the Tale Quartet and Roland Pöntinen, but based on what I've heard (e.g., from groups like Capricorn, the Borodin and Vermeer Quartets, etc.) you can't go wrong with any of them.
[asin]B000027E6M[/asin]
--Bruce
With Dohnanyi you already have some of the lesser known ones. For similarly very late romantic there is e.g. Taneyev and Medtner. There is also an early fairly romantic work by Bartok. For somewhat more modern but also accessible try Bloch (2 of them) and Shostakovich.
you probably know the Franck already. Chausson didn't write a quintet, but a piano quartet and a sextet that is called "concert" for piano, violin and string quartet. Two more late romantic French options are Pierné and Vierne with one piano quintet each. All of them should be appealing if you like Franck's and Fauré's
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81LNe5t8YGL._SL1200_.jpg) (https://is5-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music/v4/5b/37/cd/5b37cdaa-f8b9-0934-d8ba-d3e0ead089ba/0760623053424_1448.jpg/600x600bf.png) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91OtKlxOYCL._AC_SL1393_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61WJ7Bja28L._SY355_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91fRjtRbP6L._SL1429_.jpg) (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V_41J8NXkGo/WKABSp-hJPI/AAAAAAAAIsA/m5ORP7sj8qk4C1WeQkCLuluexZxpAJB5ACLcB/s400/back.jpg) (https://www.dibpic.com/uploads/posts/2019-04/1554320400_cover.jpg)
If you are into quintets for piano and winds as well, check Mozart, Beethoven, Anton Rubinstein, Rimsky-Korsakov and Carl Nielsen.
Both quintets by Martinu (especially the second) are excellent. Conveniently coupled on Naxos.
A review: https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13853/
Schmitt, anyone? One of the greatest of all, methinks!
Some good recommendations. Lots to explore. I would add: Goetz, Granados, Bridge, and Vaughan Williams for consideration as well. There are more, so give us enough time, I am sure we could list them all!!! :)
And welcome to the forum!
Shostakovich and Louis Vierne wrote extraordinary works in the medium.
Another vote for Franck, Shostakovich, Bloch, Taneyev, and Martinu. I'll also add Bacewicz No. 1 and Weinberg/Vainberg.
Hello and welcome Whisperer.
For an introductory book I'd like to recommend this one which I think will fit your requirements. You can pick it up second-hand for 50p on Amazon (UK). I've found the book very helpful over many years. As for piano quintets my favourites are by Bloch, Shostakovich, Weinberg, Schnittke and the early one by Vaughan Williams:
(//)
Another good neo-classical one I just remembered: Walter Piston (also on Naxos, with a bunch of his other chamber music).
I don't think these have been mentioned, but I'd be surprised if Faure's have not come up yet.
Weinberg's Piano Quintet is fantastic. Faure wrote two piano quintets; Bacewicz wrote two piano quintets; and Charles Wuorinen wrote two piano quintets one very recently.
Quote from: ahinton on February 17, 2020, 12:04:30 PM
Schmitt, anyone? One of the greatest of all, methinks!
Me! A truly symphonic piano quintet, and so great it is.
Several superb PQs have been named already. I didn't want to be without any of these ones either:
Adolphe Biarent
Gabriel Dupont (Poème)
Jean Huré
Nikolai Medtner
Bela Bartók
Arnold Bax
Leo Ornstein
Alexis de Castillon
Christian Sinding
Josef Suk
Vitezslav Novák
Kurt Atterberg
and the short but concise by Ottorino Respighi
I like Krzysztof Meyer's 40 minute epic piano quintet.
+1 for the Ornstein and the mammoth Schmitt opus.
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on February 17, 2020, 11:58:10 AM
Both quintets by Martinu (especially the second) are excellent. Conveniently coupled on Naxos.
A review: https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13853/ (https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13853/)
Yes, and I see that both
Shostakovich &
Schnittke have been mentioned, though in reverse order.
And the
Mieczyslaw Weinberg Quintet!
Quote from: Florestan on February 17, 2020, 11:00:25 AM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81LNe5t8YGL._SL1200_.jpg) (https://is5-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music/v4/5b/37/cd/5b37cdaa-f8b9-0934-d8ba-d3e0ead089ba/0760623053424_1448.jpg/600x600bf.png) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91OtKlxOYCL._AC_SL1393_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61WJ7Bja28L._SY355_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91fRjtRbP6L._SL1429_.jpg) (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V_41J8NXkGo/WKABSp-hJPI/AAAAAAAAIsA/m5ORP7sj8qk4C1WeQkCLuluexZxpAJB5ACLcB/s400/back.jpg) (https://www.dibpic.com/uploads/posts/2019-04/1554320400_cover.jpg)
If you are into quintets for piano and winds as well, check Mozart, Beethoven, Anton Rubinstein, Rimsky-Korsakov and Carl Nielsen.
The
Mozart quintet for pf & winds is practically obligatory listening!
Quote from: relm1 on February 17, 2020, 04:25:12 PM
I like Krzysztof Meyer's 40 minute epic piano quintet.
I need to hear this work, Meyer is among my favorite living composers, but I've only heard his string quartets.
Jean Cras.
+1 for Bax & Bridge - this version is superbly played;
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51M4xYxqaaL._AC_UL320_ML3_.jpg)
Quote from: Jo498 on February 17, 2020, 09:39:03 AM
With Dohnanyi you already have some of the lesser known ones. For similarly very late romantic there is e.g. Taneyev and Medtner. There is also an early fairly romantic work by Bartok. For somewhat more modern but also accessible try Bloch (2 of them) and Shostakovich.
you probably know the Franck already. Chausson didn't write a quintet, but a piano quartet and a sextet that is called "concert" for piano, violin and string quartet. Two more late romantic French options are Pierné and Vierne with one piano quintet each. All of them should be appealing if you like Franck's and Fauré's
+1 for the Vierne - a very powerful memorial to his son killed in WW1
Quote from: Roasted Swan on February 17, 2020, 11:24:21 PM
+1 for Bax & Bridge - this version is superbly played;
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51M4xYxqaaL._AC_UL320_ML3_.jpg)
How could I forget those ones ::)
+1 for Jean Cras as well.
While we are at (too) late romantic behemoths: Korngold and Schmidt. Franz Schmidt wrote one for piano (originally left hand only, it has later been arranged for two hands as well) + string quartet and two for piano, clarinet and vl, va, vc. Of the A major there is apparently a newish one on cpo as well; I only have heard the old Marco Polo.
[asin]B000028B1W[/asin] [asin]B000024OK7[/asin] [asin]B01L2ZS2S8[/asin]
Welcome aboard, Whisperer!
My two propositions concerning piano quintets would be:
1) George Enescu's Piano Quintet in A minor, op. 29 (form 1940). One of the best examples of this composer's late, highly personal style. The last movement is perhaps a bit too long and slightly wayward, but this does not detract from the work's great beauty.
https://www.youtube.com/v/mMq2jk9S89k&t=23s
2) Reynaldo Hahn's Piano Quintet in F-sharp major (from 1922). A backward-looking, nostalgic piece, but very enjoyable (particularly the delightful, carefree last movement, allegretto grazioso)
https://www.youtube.com/v/KPV9UuWrw28 https://www.youtube.com/v/6oh3sVpEU9c https://www.youtube.com/v/zcNvAHYFplA
Quote from: ritter on February 18, 2020, 01:34:20 AM
Welcome aboard, Whisperer!
My two propositions concerning piano quintets would be:
1) George Enescu's Piano Quintet in A minor, op. 29 (form 1940). One of the best examples of this composer's late, highly personal style. The last movement is perhaps a bit too long and slightly wayward
Many of his last movements tend to be like that. :D
Quote
2) Reynaldo Hahn's Piano Quintet in F-sharp major (from 1922). A backward-looking, nostalgic piece, but very enjoyable (particularly the delightful, carefree last movement, allegretto grazioso)
https://www.youtube.com/v/KPV9UuWrw28 https://www.youtube.com/v/6oh3sVpEU9c https://www.youtube.com/v/zcNvAHYFplA
How on earth could I forget it? :o
I know this thread is devoted to piano quintets, but because of it, I discovered Kalevi Aho's two unique quintets featuring bassoon and alto saxophone:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81%2BT2MBkERL._SL1074_.jpg)
Well worth the journey.
8)
I have always felt Piano Quintet to be an overlooked sub-genre of chamber music.
There is a huge discrepancy between the handful or so of very famous pieces (Schumann, Brahms, Dvorak, Franck, Fauré, Shostakovich) and the dozens of virtually unknown pieces.
In case more names are desired: Farrenc, Arensky, Eduard Franck, Kiel, and Saint-Saens.
Ernest Bloch's first PQ is a corker, its opening unlike anything I've heard - always makes me think of 'insect music'.
Quote from: vandermolen on February 17, 2020, 11:38:39 PM
How could I forget those ones ::)
+1 for Jean Cras as well.
This CD was one of my "Best of 2019" choices:
[asin]B07WTKFGQC[/asin]
Quote from: Jo498 on February 18, 2020, 04:32:04 AM
There is a huge discrepancy between the handful or so of very famous pieces (Schumann, Brahms, Dvorak, Franck, Fauré, Shostakovich) and the dozens of virtually unknown pieces.
You mean in quality? If yes, I disagree.
I meant in popularity. Because one can hardly claim that pieces like the Brahms, Dvorak or Schumann quintets are overlooked, so it is dubious that the genre as such is overlooked.
But I also think that while these differences in popularity are usually disproportional they are rarely completely unfounded.
As you mentioned a few of the sub-subgenre pieces with double bass that are often like miniature piano concerti (of which the only really famous one is Schubert's Trout) I think that several of these are somewhat deservedly obscure. I say this as a (relative) fan who has collected quite a bit of late classical/early romantic "mixed" chamber music for such larger or mixed ensembles.
Quote from: Daverz on February 18, 2020, 11:16:26 AM
This CD was one of my "Best of 2019" choices:
[asin]B07WTKFGQC[/asin]
Wasn't aware of that release so many thanks for the recommendation.
:)
Quote from: ritter on February 18, 2020, 01:34:20 AM
Welcome aboard, Whisperer!
My two propositions concerning piano quintets would be:
1) George Enescu's Piano Quintet in A minor, op. 29 (form 1940). One of the best examples of this composer's late, highly personal style. The last movement is perhaps a bit too long and slightly wayward, but this does not detract from the work's great beauty.
https://www.youtube.com/v/mMq2jk9S89k&t=23s
A big YES to the Enescu
Quintet. Such a fine work and this would be my pick as well. Also, a welcome from me as well. :)
I've enjoyed reading all these recommendations myself and hope that Whisperer gets round to seeing them.
Dear All
Thank you for your interesting and thoughtful replies. I had not signed in for a while. Caring can be isolating so it was lovely to receive so many replies and the recommendations they contained. I will use YouTube to examine your recommendations further and I must admit there are composers mentioned I had never heard of until now.
That is one thing I love about classical music. It has a huge number of works and composers. Each person finds different pieces appeals to them. Interestingly I have found that a piece of music can become appealing over time. I am not very interested in symphonies, beyond Beethoven. However a few have become favourites that when I first heard them, sometimes long ago, they had no appeal. Schumann's Spring symphony and Schubert's unfinished symphony are two examples. The music does not appeal at one time in your life, later it does and you wonder why it did not the first time round. I guess we just move on and change.
Any way once again many thanks to all those who replied to my initial query.
Best wishes for the future.
Very nice reply !
Your words of thanks to all who participated in your thread are duly noted and appreciated.
Keep well!
André
Quote from: André on March 01, 2020, 01:30:12 PM
Very nice reply !
Your words of thanks to all who participated in your thread are duly noted and appreciated.
Keep well!
André
+1
Also a belated admirer of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony
Quote from: André on February 18, 2020, 05:25:26 AM
Ernest Bloch's first PQ is a corker, its opening unlike anything I've heard - always makes me think of 'insect music'.
Yes, yes, yes
:)
To not make duplication of posts I give here just link to my today's post (//http://) in General Classical Music Discussion >> Piano Quintets thread.