Presents
Julius Röntgen
Serenade for Wind Quintet, Op.14
For Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, 2 Horns & 2 Bassoons
Julius Röntgen’s Serenade for Winds in A Major was composed in 1876. It was dedicated to Julius Klengel and his wife Elizabeth. The name Julius Klengel immediately brings to mind one of the greatest cellists in history and one might well wonder why a work exclusively for winds was dedicated to a cellist. The answer is that is wasn’t, it was dedicated to his uncle whose name was Julius Klengel and his Aunt Elizabeth.
The work is flute, oboe, clarinet, two horns and two bassoons. One has to go all the way back to Mozart to find works of this type, which Mozart had titled Serenades. The fact that Röntgen opted to call his work a serenade rather than a septet points to Mozart as the 21 year old composer’s model. And one cannot help upon hearing this engaging work that had Mozart been composing in 1876, this is something he might have penned. Both Brahms and Herzogenberg heard performances of it shortly after it was published in 1878. Brahms actually borrowed a theme from it to use in one of his own serenades composed a few years later. In four movements, the Serenade begins with a genial Allegro tranquillo. The second movement, Scherzo allegro, is playful and light hearted. The Andante espressione which follows is languid and calm although there is a more lively middle section. The finale, Allegro vivace, is a spritely neo-Mozartian affair.
Julius Röntgen (1855-1932) was born in the German city of Leipzig. His father was a violinist and his mother a pianist. He showed musical talent at an early age and was taken to the famed pianist and composer, Carl Reinecke, the director of the Gewandhaus orchestra. Subsequently he studied piano in Munich with Franz Lachner, one of Schubert's closest friends. After a brief stint as a concert pianist, Röntgen moved to Amsterdam and taught piano there, helping to found the Amsterdam Conservatory and the subsequently world famous Concertgebouw Orchestra. He composed throughout his life and especially during his last 10 years after he retired. Though he wrote in most genres, chamber music was his most important area.
Parts: $44.95
