Presents
Anton Reicha
String Quartet in E Major, Op.95 No.1--New Edition
Anton Reicha, (1770-1836, Antonin Rejcha in the Czech form) was born in Prague. Orphaned at an early age, he went to Bavaria and was adopted by his uncle, Joseph Reicha, a concert cellist and music director. He studied violin, flute, piano and composition while with his uncle. In 1785, his family moved to Bonn, where Joseph became music director at the electoral court. There, Anton got to know Beethoven with whom he became life-long friends. He traveled extensively. After living in Paris and Hamburg, in 1801 he moved to Vienna where he studied with Albrechtsberger and Salieri and resumed his friendship with Beethoven and Haydn. In 1806, in part because of the Napoleonic invasion of Vienna, he decided to move to Paris where he spent the rest of his life, eventually becoming a naturalized French citizen. He became a professor at the Paris Conservatory and was one of the most famous teachers of his time. George Onslow, Louise Farrenc, Franz Liszt, Hector Berlioz, Cesar Franck and Charles Gounod were among his many students. He also gained fame as a theorist. He was an innovator in many areas. Though perhaps not the inventor of the Wind Quintet, he was the first to popularize it. A prolific composer, he wrote in virtually every genre. Chamber music is a very important part of his oeuvre. He was always interested in experimenting and in many respects was way ahead of his time dabbling with polytonality and quarter tones. He wrote that he felt the most creative when he experimented trying new things rather than following traditional forms.
His String Quartet in E Major was the first of a set of three dating from 1824. The set was dedicated to the famous French violinist Pierre Rode. The opening movement, Allegro moderato, opens in a vein recalling Mozart, with a long-lined, lyrical melody sounding as if it came from one of Wolfgang's opera. This in turn is interrupted by several dramatic episodes. The second movement, Poco andante, also sound vaguely like a quiet, lovely aria. The opening bars to the Menuetto which comes next sound like bagpipes. Against this, we hear a lively subject. A nicely contrasting trio section follows. The finale, Allegretto, in 6/8 bears resemblance to a Haydnesque Rondo.
This lovely work is an example of French taste in chamber music after the Napoleonic era. Our new edition is based on the Pacini edition of 1824. It will be a success in concert but can be managed by the average amateur quartet player as it presents no unusual technical problems.
Parts: $24.95
Parts & Score: $34.95
