Presents
Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda
String Quartet No.1 in e minor, Op.61
Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda (1801-66 Jan Vaclav Kalivoda in the Czech form) is a name virtually unknown today, except perhaps to violinists. However, he was a well-known and highly respected composer, conductor and soloist during his lifetime. Schumann, among others, held a high opinion of his compositions and he is sometimes spoken of as the link between Beethoven and Schumann. He was born in Prague and studied at the conservatory there. After some years of touring as a concert violinist, he chose permanent employment as conductor of the Donaueschingen Orchestra at the court of Prince Karl Egon II. Thereafter, Kalliwoda devoted what free time he had to composition as a means of supplementing his income and was, for the last 30 years of his life, considered a “house composer” by the publisher C.F. Peters who published all but 60 of his nearly 250 works.
In 1831, Peters commissioned three string quartets, specifying that they “...were to be in the beautiful style of Mozart.” String Quartet No.1 in e minor, Op.61 was completed in 1835. The opening of the first movement, Allegro moderato, is highly chromatic and almost modern sounding. This gives way to a very dramatic main theme brought forth by the first violin. In the Adagio which follows, the main theme is quite lovely and presented as a group effort, with the cello taking the lead in the early innings. The second theme is interrupted by a dramatic middle section, underpinned by an accompaniment of drummed triplets. It is quite effective. The very original Scherzo, with its quirky rhythm, is entirely pizzicato and extremely well done. In the contrasting trio section, the lower voices imitate the droning of bagpipes, while the first violin plays a folk melody. The themes to the exciting finale, Vivace, are appealing and a clever fugue pushes the music forward effortlessly.
Kalliwoda did not try to imitate Mozart but he certainly produced beautiful quartets. This is a fine work, pleasant to hear and fun to play. It can be recommended both to amateurs and for concert performance.
Parts: $24.95
