Presents
Franz Danzi
Quintet in d minor, Op.41
For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon
Franz Danzi (1763-1826) was born near and grew up in Mannheim. Danzi studied cello with his father and composition with Abt Vogler before he joined the famous Mannheim orchestra of the Elector in 1778. His career spanned the transition from the late Classical to the early Romantic styles. Danzi knew Mozart and mentored Carl Maria von Weber. In 1783, Danzi succeeded his father as one of the conductors of Elector’s orchestra. He eventually rose to the position of Kapellmeister at the courts in Munich and later Stuttgart. He was a prolific composer who wrote works in virtually every genre. Danzi's chamber music includes sextets, quintets, quartets and trios, some for strings, some for wind instruments and some for a combination of the two. These works are generally in a style that reflects his own early experience in Mannheim.
The Quintet in d minor for Piano and Winds, Op.41 was completed in 1810. Danzi was seven years younger than Mozart and seven years older than Beethoven. Both of those composers had written quintets for piano winds and most likely those works served as his models. In three movements, the work begins with a substantial Largo introduction in which the piano is given the lead. The main section Allegro is tuneful and flows along easily. The middle movement is a charming Andante sostenuto. The finale is a playful Allegretto.
We have been fortunate to find a very clean and readable original Breitkopf and Härtel edition which we have reprinted. As was the practice from that era, the piano part is only the piano and not a piano score.
Parts: $27.95
