Presents
Benjamin Godard
String Quartet No.2 in A Major, Op.37
"Benjamin Godard’s String Quartet No.2 in A Major, Op.37 appeared in 1884. The appealing thematic material of the first movement, Allegretto moderato, shows very fine workmanship. Again, in the second movement, Andante, the workmanship is impeccable. This lovely movement resembles an Albumblatt (an album leaf or character piece). A short and straight forward Vivace ma non troppo comes next. The exciting finale is quite effective because of its rushing rhythmic material and superb workmanship." —–Renown critic and chamber music scholar Wilhelm Altmann writing in his Handbook for String Quartet Players.
Benjamin Godard (1849-95) was born in Paris. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire composition with Reber and violin with Henri Vieuxtemps. He was somewhat of a prodigy on that instrument, as well as on the viola, and accompanied Vieuxtemps to Germany on concert tours on two occasions. Godard enjoyed chamber music and played in several performing ensembles. This experience stood him good stead when it came to writing effective chamber music compositions. In 1878, Godard was the co-winner with Théodore Dubois, head of the Paris Conservatory, of a musical competition instituted by the city of Paris. He composed music with great facility and from 1878 up to the time until his death Godard composed a surprisingly large number of works, including the opera Jocelyn, from which the famous "Berceuse" has become perhaps his best known work. He also composed several symphonic works, ballets, concertos, overtures and chamber music, including three string quartets and two piano trios.
Out of print for many years, we are pleased to make it available once again and believe it will be of interest to both amateurs and professionals alike.
Parts: $24.95
Parts & Score: $31.95
