Presents
Friedrich Ernst Fesca
String Quartet No.7 in a minor, Op.3 No.1-New Edition
Friedrich Ernst Fesca (1789-1826) was born in the German town of Magdeburg. He studied piano and violin with several different teachers, including for a short time Ludwig Spohr. By age 16 had already obtained a position as a violinist in the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Not long after, he was employed as solo violinist to the Court of Jerome Bonaparte, at that time, King of Westphalia. After this he lived for a while in Vienna where he befriended the famous violinist, Ignaz Schuppanzigh, first violinist of the famous Beethoven Razumovsky String Quartet. His final years were spent working in Karlsruhe along with fellow composer Franz Danzi. He composed in nearly every genre from opera to solo piano works, however, the bulk of his out put was chamber music. Carl Maria von Weber, writing of Fesca’s chamber music, had this to say. “Mr. Fesca is completely master of whatever he undertakes to express. I am fully convinced of his remarkable talent. His works are carefully written, thoroughly elaborated and richly flavored." Fesca was widely hailed as a worthy successor to Haydn and Mozart and his quartets were frequently performed on a regular basis up until the middle of the 19th century when they began to disappear.
String Quartet No.7 is the first of a set dating from 1817. The opening Allegro begins in dramatic fashion with a plaintive cry and is followed by turbulent stormy episodes. The second movement, a lovely Andante, features much intricate filigree writing and telling use of pizzicato. The third movement, Menuetto, allegro, is certainly closer to a scherzo than a classical minuet, and could hardly be said to be something which could be danced to. The finale, Allegro molto, bears.much in common with the opening movement, it is full of drama and pathos.
We believe this work belongs in the repertoire and makes an excellent alternative to the inevitable Haydn or Mozart, which is why we have gone to the expense and trouble to create a new modern edition. It has been carefully edited by senior editors Tomasz Golinski and R.H.R. Silvertrust
Parts: $24.95
Parts & Score: $34.95
