String Quartet in G Major
Friedrich
Wollanck (1782-1831 sometimes spelled Wollank) was born in the city of
Berlin, then the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia. His parents were well to
do and important members of Berlin society, so despite Friedrich’s love for
music which showed itself early, they insisted that he pursue a career as a
lawyer. He gave in to their wishes and studied law in Frankfurt an der Oder
and Halle. However, they allowed him to study music and paid for his violin
and composition lessons with the Berlin composer Joseph Gürrlich. He also
had lessons from Carl Friedrich Fasch whose Singacademie he entered. He was
also a co-founder along with Carl Zelter of the famous Berliner Liedertafel,
a men’s choir. His parents often hosted chamber music concerts and he got to
know such luminaries as Ludwig Spohr, Pierre Rode and Carl Maria von Weber,
who was especially impressed with Wollanck’s works for voice and encouraged
him to compose an opera. He took Weber's advice. His opera Die Alpenhirt
along with several others he composed were performed in Berlin with positive
reviews.
He enjoyed success as a lawyer and by 1813 was a Judicial Commissioner and
Councilor in the city of Berlin and at the Prussian Court. He still, however, had
time to compose and had several operas, art songs, concertos, sonatas and
chamber music to his credit, including a string sextet, string quintet and
three string quartets. His wealth allowed him to travel and in 1826 he
journeyed to Paris where he got to know and became good friends with
Cherubini and Rossini who introduced him to other prominent composers then
living in Paris.
His String Quartet in G Major
dates from 1810. It is in four movements and begins with a tuneful and
appealing Allegro. Wollanck’s gift for melody and vocal writing is apparent
here. There is frequent repartee between the first violin and cello which
one finds throughout the quartet. The second movement, Andante, is a sad
lament. Next comes an energetic, somewhat playful Menuetto,
allegro. Again, there is a clever back and forth between the cello and first
violin. The the initial part of the finale. Allegro molto, is full of
forward motion but is then interrupted by a more relaxed and lyrical
interlude.
Parts: $19.95
