Presents
Max Laurischkus
Aus Litauen, Quintet in B flat Major, Op.23
For Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, and Bassoon
Max Laurischkus (1876-1929) was born in the then East Prussian town of Insterburg, which after WWII was incorporated into the Soviet Union. At the time of Laurischkus' birth, East Prussia was a cultural mix of Germans, Lithuanians and Poles. Insterburg was a German town situated in an area known as Lithuania Minor. The question of his ethnicity has never been conclusively resolved. It seems quite likely that as Lithuanians claim, he was one of their own. They spell his name as Maksas Lauriskas. However, it is not known if this was the spelling of his birth name. After studying piano in Insterburg, he was sent to Berlin and studied at the Königliche akademische Hochschule für Musik (Royal Academy of Music) with Heinrich von Herzogenberg and Woldemar Bargiel. Once in Germany, he spelled his name Max Laurischkus and all of his music was published under this name. Subsequent to his graduation, he spent the rest of his life in Berlin teaching privately and eventually at the Hochschule where he had studied. Proponents of the argument that he was an ethnic Lithuanian point to the fact that much of his music is imbued with Lithuanian folk melodies, evidencing a longing for his homeland.
One such work is his Wind Quintet in B flat Major, Aus Litauen (From Lithuania). It dates from 1910 and is in five relatively short movements, each which have a subtitle. The opening movement, Allegro non troppo, is entitled Von Land und Leuten (about the country and its people) The second movement, Andante con moto, Abendstimmung (evening atmosphere) is a kind of nocturne. The third movement, Allegro commodo, is entitled Daina, a Lithuanian folksong traditionally sung in a polyphonic manner. Fourth, Moderato scherzando, is called Dorfserenade (village serenade) and the finale, Allegro non troppo, Metturgis. is a kind of festive fair. This is a well-written and evocative work.
Long unobtainable by a talented but little-known composer, we are pleased to make it available once again. It will do well in the concert hall but presents no great technical difficulties. It makes an attractive compliment to the wind quintets by Theodor Blumer, Franz Danzi, Josef Bohuslav Theodor Blumer, Franz Danzi, Josef Bohuslav Foerster, Heinrich Schmid, August Klughardt, George Onslow, and Johann Sobeck, all for the same combination and available from Edition Silvertrust.
Parts: $29.95
Parts & Score: $38.95
