Presents
Peter Hänsel
String Quartet in d minor, Op.16-New Edition
Peter Hänsel (sometimes spelled Haensel, 1770-1831) was born in the town Leppe in what was then Prussian Silesia. He was trained as a violinist and worked in Warsaw and St. Petersburg before obtaining employment in Vienna where he studied composition with Haydn during the 1790’s. Other than two years he spent in Paris during 1802-1803, his entire life was spent in Vienna, working as a violinist and composer. He devoted himself almost exclusively to the genre of chamber music, writing nearly 60 string quartets, 6 string trios, 5 string quintets and works for several other small ensembles. His style remained firmly rooted in the classical era and is closely related to that of his teacher Haydn but he also introduced French and Polish elements into his works, the result of his sojourning in those lands.
His String Quartet in d minor, Op.16 is interesting in that it was published not as a set but as a single work. All of his previous quartets had been brought out and published in sets of three. It was composed around 1807 and was dedicated to Teresa Radicati a famous Italian opera singer and the wife of his friend Felice Radicati, an Italian violin virtuoso and a champion of string quartet performance in Italy. Radicati helped to popularize Hänsel's quartets in Italy and took part in several performances in Vienna as well. The opening movement begins with an Andante sostenuto introduction which leads to the main section, a yearning Allegro molto. The main subject of the second movement Andante, is a stately and noble theme. In third place is a lively, Haydnesque Menuetto. The finale, Allegretto piu tosto vivo. is full of forward motion.
Our new edition, which was edited by senior editor Raymond Silvertrust, is based on the Alois Senefelder of Vienna edition which was printed at the Chemische Druckerey (Chemical Printing House) under the mark Stamperia chimica, plate no.439. This is an appealing work from the late classical era which can be recommended to both amateurs and professionals.
Parts: $24.95
Parts & Score: $33.95
