Presents
Ferdinand Ries
Piano Quartet No.3 in e minor, Op.129
"Ferdinand Ries' Piano Trio No.3 in e minor, Op.129 dates from 1820. The opening Allegro begins with a kind of short introduction promising much and several stormy sections follow. Ries makes fine use of the strings and the piano, though requiring a pianist with nimble fingers, does not require a virtuoso. The thematic material is lyrical and dramatic. The second movement, a stately Andante, is very fine. The part-writing stands out. The third movement, Scherzo allegro vivace, dances along merrily and is only interrupted by a lovely, slow trio section. A dramatic and exciting Presto concludes the quartet. This fine work is most deserving of concert performance and amateurs will also find it ingratiating."---The famous chamber music critic and savant Wilhelm Altmann, writing in his Handbook for Piano Quartet Players.
Today, Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) is primarily remembered as a friend and student of Beethoven, as well as his first biographer. However, during his lifetime and for much of the 19 century Ries was remembered as a fine composer and virtuoso pianist. He showed musical promise from an early age, studying both violin and piano with his father, and the cello with Bernhard Romberg. In 1801, he went to Vienna to study with Beethoven. He studied piano and composition with him for nearly 5 years. Thereafter Ries concertized throughout Europe for a number of years before settling in London and then finally retiring in Frankfurt. He wrote a considerable amount of music including several piano concertos and a large quantity of chamber music which was for many years often performed and well thought of.
We have reprinted the original edition and note that as was customary from this period that the piano part is not a piano score, but just the piano part. This Piano Quartet from the early Romantic era would unquestionably do well in concert and should also give pleasure to amateurs.
Parts: $34.95
