Presents
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Quartet No.1 in E flat Major, WoO.36 No.1
Beethoven composed three piano quartets in 1785 shortly before his 15th birthday. They were not published until the year after his death in 1828 when the famous Viennese publisher Artaria came into possession of the manuscripts. What is surprising about this is that there were no well-known works for this combination for which he could use as models. Mozart had not yet composed either of his two piano quartets. Beethoven modeled his piano quartets after several of Mozart's violin sonatas which were already in print and in wide circulation. He even borrowed some thematic material from some of the sonatas. Even so, these quartets are a remarkable achievement for a 14 year old boy.
All of the piano quartets are in 3 movements. Here--Adagio assai, Allegro con spirito and Theme and Six Variations. The first movement ends attacca to the second movement
This is an enjoyable work which can be recommended to both professionals and to amateurs as it presents no particularly technical challenges.
Parts: $19.95
