Presents
Max d'Ollone
String Quartet in D Major
Max d'Ollone (1875-1959) was born in the French town of Besançon and studied composition at the Paris Conservatory with Jules Massenet, winning the prestigious Prix d'Rome. He then pursued a career as a composer, conductor and teacher and eventually served as a professor at the Paris Conservatory. Most of his works are for the stage although he did not entirely ignore chamber music, composing this piano trio, a string quartet and some instrumental works.
His String Quartet in D Major is a youthful work, dating from 1898 while he was living in Rome, after just having one the prize. It was dedicated to his friend the French composer, conductor and teacher Henri-Paul Busser. The bright opening movement, Molto allegro, is despite the tempo is rather genial, and relaxed. The restless second movement, Allegro vivace, serves as a scherzo. is a whirling, nervous affair, heavily accented. Next comes a sad and song-like Andante largemente. The upbeat finale because of its rhythm is an excellent example of traveling music through the filter of French Impressionism.,
This is a fine work which can stand alongside of the quartets of Debussy, Ravel and Saint Saens. It deserves to be revived and brought into the concert hall where it please the audiences who get a chance to hear it.
Parts: $24.95
