Presents
Woldemar Bargiel
String Quartet No.3 in a minor, Op.15b
Woldemar Bargiel (1828-97) was Clara Schumann’s half brother. Throughout their lives, they enjoyed a warm relationship and thanks to Clara, Bargiel was introduced to both Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn who encouraged him to study at the famous Leipzig Conservatory with two of the leading men of music: Ignaz Moscheles (piano) and Niels Gade (composition). Bargiel held positions at the conservatories in Cologne and Rotterdam before accepting a position at the prestigious Hochschule fur Musik in Berlin where he taught for the rest of his life. Among his many students were Paul Juon and Leopold Godowsky. While Bargiel did not write a lot of music, most of what he composed was well thought out and shows solid musical craftsmanship. His chamber music—he wrote four string quartets, a string octet and three piano trios—represents an important part of his output.
Bargiel’s String Quartet No.3 in a minor, Op.15b was composed in 1850 but remained unpublished until 1877. It was dedicated to Emmanuel Wirth, violist of the Joachim Quartet of Berlin. It is a fairly concise work in four movements. The opening Allegro ma non troppo has a lyrical Mendelsohnian theme filled with yearning. The main section of the second movement Allegretto commodo is characterized more by its thrusting rhythm than by any melodic material. By contrast, the trio section has an appealing melody given out alone by the first violin over pizzicato accompaniment. The Andante which follows is romantic and mostly calm. The finale, Vivace ed energico, is energetic and full of forward motion.
This quartet is fun to play and can be warmly recommended to amateurs but is also strong enought to be presented in concert. Out of print for a century or more, we are pleased to make it available once again.
Parts: $24.95
Parts & Score: $31.95
