Presents
Leopold Jansa
String Quartet No.6 in C Major, Op.51 No.1
Leopold Jansa (1795-1875) in the village of Wildenschwert in Bohemia, then part of the Habsburg Empire. (now known as: Ústí nad Orlicí in the Czech Republic), He took violin lessons as a child in his home town but was largely self-taught which was surprising as he was later regarded, along with Joseph Mayseder and Carl Bohm as one Vienna’s leading violinists. In Vienna he studied law but also studied composition with Václav Voříšek and Emanuel Förster. He was eventually appointed Imperial Court Virtuoso and became a professor of Violin University of Vienna and the Vienna Conservatory. From 1834 to 1850, he participated in various String quartets. He took over from Ignaz Schuppanzigh as lead violin in the Schuppanzigh Quartet, Vienna’s most famous quartet, which had been responsible for premiering most of Beethoven’s quartets. He wrote a considerable amount of chamber music including 13 string quartets. His style is that of the Vienna Romantic movement. He lost his positions in Vienna as a result of his participation in a London concert in aid of the wounded who had fought for Hungarian independence in the Revolution of 1848. As a result, he was barred from returning to the Austrian Empire. Well regarded in London, he choose to remain there for two decades, until he was finally pardoned in 1868, working as a soloist and violin teacher. Among his students were Wilma Neruda, (Lady Hallé), and Karl Goldmark.
His String Quartet No.6 in C Major, Op.51 No.1 was composed in 1836. It was the first of a set of three designed for amateur market of Vienna and beyond and hence presented no technical challenges. The opening movement, Allegro, is genial with a certain grace that was typical of the chamber music being composed in Biedermeier Vienna at the time. The second movement, Scherzo, though in the usual 3/4 time makes an impression because of its emphasis on beat 2 as a kind of after beat. The short trio section provides a nice contrast. A lovely Andante follows. The finale, Allegro, is a toe-tapping rondo.
This is a fine choice for amateur quarteters looking for a work to present in concert. It has been unavailable now for many years and we are pleased to make it available once again.
Parts: $24.95
