Presents
Erkki Melartin
String Quartet No.4 in F Major, Op.62 No.1
Erkki Melartin's String Quartet
No.4 in F Major came six years after his third. It was dedicated to a Nicolai N.
Lasarenko of whom we could find no information. Like the other three quartets,
it was not published during his lifetime.
The manuscripts to these quartets can be found in the library of the Sibelius
Academy of Helsinki. Our edition is based on those manuscripts. A picture of the
first page of the Violin I manuscript appears on the left.
The opening movement, Moderato, begins with a lyrical solo in the cello over a pulsing accompaniment. Eventually it is taken up by the others. It sounds vaguely like Borodin. The second subject is more lively and is strongly rhythmic. There is much forward movement and one gets a musical impression of traveling across a big landscape. The second movement, Scherzo, allegro vivace, is full of nervous energy and exudes much restless forward motion. A highly contrasting trio section follows. It starts off considerably slower than the scherzo and for several measures is played entirely in pizzicato until a melancholy bagpipe sounding theme appears. Shortly thereafter, the tempo picks up and approaches that of the scherzo. A pulsing accompaniment opens the Andante, which comes next. A lovely melody, first heard in the violin and then the cello, is played over it. As the movement develops, the music becomes mysterious and builds great tension. The finale begins with a brief, sweet Andante introduction which leads to the main section that litterally explodes. It is a powerful, restless, canonic Allegro which proceeds at breathtaking speed. There is hardly a moment's rest as it inexorably powers forward, even when a more lyrical subject is brought forth.
We feel this is a masterwork, which belongs in the repertoire. The only reason that it has not taken its place there is because it remained unpublished for more than 100 years after its composition. It is hard to understand why Melartin did not pursue publication of such an outstanding work. Perhaps, the long shadow of his countryman Sibelius played a role. But surely this quartet, as well as the first three, need fear any comparison with the one string quartet Sibelius published.
Erkki Melartin (1875-1937) was born in the Finnish town of Käkisalmi. He studied with Martin Wegelius in Helsinki and then in Vienna with Robert Fuchs. He pursued a career as a composer, conductor and teacher, serving as the director of the Helsinki Conservatory. He was a prolific composer who wrote in most genres. His music shows the influence of Mahler and is primarily written in the late, post Brahmsian idiom. He did not ignore chamber music and composed a piano quintet, a string quintet, four string quartets and several short works for piano trio. Unfortunately, most of these have remained languishing in manuscript form in libraries and have not been published. His work, as the quartet clearly shows, is quite accomplished and indicates that he was a first rate composer whose music deserves to enter the repertoire and to be heard on a regular basis.
Parts: $29.95
