Presents
Johan Wilhelm Wilms
Piano Quartet No.1 in C Major, Op.22
Johan Wilms' Piano Quartet No.1 in C Major was published in 1808 but most scholars believe that it was composed a decade earlier around the turn of the century. In style, it builds on Haydn and Mozart but already shows an awareness of the emerging Romantic era and as such can be said to be a link between those composers and Mendelssohn and Schumann. The opening movement, Allegro, is bright and upbeat with lovely, free flowing melodies. The second movement, Adagio, is delicate with long-lined vocal tunes. Next is a short, fleet Scherzando, allegro, it bears similarities to Beethoven's works from the same period. The finale is a graceful Polonaise allegretto, which could actually be danced to.
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Johan Wilhelm Wilms (1772–1847) was born in the German town of Witzhelden. After lessons from his father in piano and composition, Wilms studied flute on his own, and then moved to Amsterdam in 1791 and obtained a position playing flute in an orchestra there. Soon his talent as a pianist was recognized and he became a soloist, giving the Dutch premieres of the piano concertos of Mozart and Beethoven. Today, in the Netherlands, he is still remembered for composing the music to the first Dutch national anthem. He wrote in most genres and his works were frequently praised in the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung to which he was also a contributor.
We have reprinted the first edition of 1808. This quartet would make a good choice where a work from the classical era is required. As it is not a modern edition, we offer it a very substantial discount from our normal piano quartet price.
Parts: $24.95
