Presents
Frederick Ouseley
String Quartet in C Major
Frederick Ouseley (1825-1889) was born in London into a minor noble family, his father was a baronet. It is reported that he was a child prodigy who composed a complete opera at the age of 8. He took a divinity degree at Oxford at entered the ministry. Though drawn to music, it was, at the time, thought unseemly for an English nobleman to be a composer. However, his strong love of music eventually led him back to Oxford where he studied for and received a bachelor's and doctor's degree in music. He subsequently became Professor of Music at Oxford and divided his time between teaching, and working as vicar. Most of his compositions were for the church. But he did compose at least two string quartets.
His Quartet in C Major was published in 1875 but mostly likely composed several years earlier. Musical tastes at the time in Victorian England were rather conservative with Mendelssohn dominating musical thought. Ouseley's own musical taste was also rather conservative and his quartets hark back to the early romantic and late classical eras. Nonetheless, the quartets are very well written with appealing melodies and good part-writing.
The opening movement is a lively Allegro con brio. The middle movement is a tuneful Largo con espresso. The finale, Vivace, is full of energy and forward motion.
Ouseley clearly wrote this work for amateurs and the home music making markets. It is a good choice for amateur quartets looking for a performance work as it presents no technical difficulties.
Parts: $24.95
Parts & Score: $31.95
