Presents
Rubin Goldmark
Piano Trio Piano Trio in d minor, Op.1
Rubin Goldmark (1872-1936) was born in New York City. His father Leo had emigrated to the United States from Austria and was the younger brother of the then famous Austrian composer Carl Goldmark. Rubin studied piano at the City College of New York and then was sent to his Uncle Carl’s care in Vienna where he attended the Vienna Conservatory, studying with Robert Fuchs and Anton Door among others. After the conclusion of his studies in Vienna, Goldmark returned to the United States and continued his composition studies with Dvorak and his piano studies with Rafael Joseffy. Subsequently, he pursed a career as a pianist, composer and teacher. During his lifetime, his compositions were among the most frequently performed by American composers. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is as a teacher of George Gershwin and Aaron Copland. He served as a professor of composition at the newly opened Juilliard School of Music.
His Piano Trio in d minor, hardly his first work but the first work to which he chose to give an opus number, dates from 1893, not long after his return to New York from Vienna, while he was studying with Dvorak who attended the premiere and who afterwards was heard to remark, “And now there are two Goldmarks”. The writing finds its antecedents in Schumann and Brahms. The big opening movement, Allegro moderato, is clearly in the tonal world of mid-late German Romanticism with its broad themes and lovely melodies. The second movement, Romanze, begins in a dark vein with the cello singing a haunting melody. Soon the violin joins in over the piano’s soft accompaniment. Much of the movement is a kind of lovers duet between the strings. Next comes an energetic and vigorous Scherzo with a mellow and finely contrasting short trio. The finale, Allegro con fuoco, has touches of Brahmsian fire.
Long out of print, here is a fine work which not only deserves concert performance but will also be a great pleasure to amateurs.
Parts: $29.95
