Presents
Eugene Walckiers
Wind Quartet No.4 in B flat Major, Op.48
For Flute, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon
Eugène Walckiers (1793-1866) was born in the Belgian town of Avesnes-sur-Helpe. His first teacher was Heinrich Wilhelm Marchand, a pupil of Leopold Mozart. Subsequently, he moved to Paris studied flute privately with the then famous flute virtuoso Jean-Louis Tulou and composition with Anton Reicha, then the most famouse teacher of composition living in Paris. Most of Walckiers' compositions included the flute. He wrote a great deal of chamber music, including trios with flute and cello, flute quartets, piano quintets with flute and so forth. These compositions were admired by Rossini, Meyerbeer and other prominent contemporaries of Walckiers and were much in demand during his lifetime. Toward the end of his life, he also wrote chamber music which did not include the flute such as piano trios and string quintets. His gift for melody and creating dramatic episodes, bordering on the operatic, was almost unrivaled.
The Op.48 Wind Quartet in B flat Major dates from 1834. It is in four movements and begins with a calm, pastoral Allegretto. Gradually the mood changes and becomes more lively but overall the music is genial and pleasant. The second movement, Andante, has a rather lengthy introduction before the horn introduces a choral-like theme. Next comes a lively, lilting Scherzo, poco presto with a nicely contrasting trio. The finale, Allegretto non troppo, is light and playful.
This Wind Quartet makes for an engaging work for concert but can also be recommended to amateur ensembles.
Parts: $24.95
