Presents
Franz Xaver Süssmayr
Quintet in D Major SmWV.602
For Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola, & Cello
Today if Franz Xaver Süssmayr (1766-1803) is remembered at all, it is for having completed Mozart's Requiem. He was born in the Austrian town of Schwanenstadt. His first music lessons were from his father who then sent him to the Gymnasium in Kremsmünster where he received thorough music lessons in voice, organ, violin and composition. In 1788, he moved to Vienna where he studied with Antonio Salieri and then during 1790-1791 with Mozart with whom he became a close friend. Mozart, on his deathbed, knew that he would not live to complete his Requiem and discussed his ideas for competing the work with Süssmayr who is generally credited by scholars as having completed the bulk of the work. Interestingly, Mozart's last son, born in 1791 a few months before his death, was named Franz Xaver. Most scholars believe this was no coincidence and posit it to one of two possibilities: the first that Mozart chose the name to honor his close friend and student, the second, less likely although there is considerable evidence to support it, that Franz Xaver Mozart (1791-1844) was the son of Süssmayr with whom Mozart's wife Constanze had had an affair. After Mozart's death, Süssmayr obtained several conducting positions at Vienna's major theaters. A prolific composer, as were most of this era, he had over 600 compositions to his credit, mostly for voice or opera. He did not write a great deal of chamber music. There are two quintets, this being the second.
The Quintet in D Major, judging from its catalog number, was a late work composed sometime after 1792 and probably closer to 1800. It is one of the few pieces of chamber music that he wrote and the fact that it is for an unusual combination of instruments lends credence to the conclusion that it was the result of a commission from an amateur enthusiast that Süssmayr had received. In three movements, the opening and elegant Allegro con brio, sounds very Mozartean, certainly no accident considering that Süssmayr was his student and had copiously studied his composition methods. In fact, if you did not know better, you might well think that it was written by Mozart. In the somewhat short middle movement, Adagio, the flute and violin are entrusted with presenting much of the lovely melody. The finale, a dance-like Rondo allegretto, again sounds very much like Mozart.
Here is a very appealing work which can not only be recommended for concert but especially to amateur players for whom it was almost certainly intended.
Parts: $29.95
Parts & Score: $38.95
