Piano Quartet (Strauss)
[2] A few weeks after the work's completion, the Berliner Tonkünstlerverein, a Berlin-based professional association for musicians, held a competition for "the best piano quartet received", with Heinrich Dorn, Josef Rheinberger and Franz Wüllner as judges.On this occasion, I would like to tell you that I am very sad to see you leave and confess that through your achievements I am thoroughly cured of my earlier misapprehension that you, due to your youth, were not yet qualified to be the sole director of an orchestra.The first movement is held in sonata form and opens with a low-lying unisono subject in the strings that pauses on a chord and subsequently erupts fortissimo in triplets on the piano.[3] According to musicologist Ludwig Finscher, the opening movement is not based concise motifs, but on expansive thematic groups.[4] Music critic Michael Kennedy noted that "one should recognize the real Strauss in the broad sweep of the second subject of the first movement and in the Till-like way in which he switches moods during this Allegro".[7] Following a performance in Berlin on 22 May 1886 at a soiree of the Tonkünstlerverein [de], the Vossische Zeitung wrote: [Richard Strauss'] new work testifies to aesthetic sense, inventiveness and technical skill.The Andante initially captivates with its soft and full swelling cantilena, but becomes tiring in the course due to the lack of a more lively contrast.Music critic Richard Pohl complimented Strauss, despite being a follower of the New German School around Franz Liszt and thus critical towards chamber music in the style of Brahms:[2] Richard Strauss has an unusual talent for composition – he has his own thoughts, imaginative ideas, great formal dexterity and a 'long breath', a proof of proficient skill.The first movement is large in scale and broad in development; the Scherzo has real humor, but is so exceptionally difficult rhythmically that, as one kind artist told me, "you must be able to keep time very well just to listen to it".
Piano quartetRichard StraussC minorGeorg II, Duke of Saxe-MeiningenWeimarKarel HalířLeopold Grützmacherchamber musicJohannes Brahmsmovementssonata formscherzoPiano Quartet in G minorPiano Quartet in C minorWandrers SturmliedBurleskeRichard Spechtprofessional associationHeinrich DornJosef RheinbergerFranz WüllnerCello SonataMunichCourt KapellmeisterMeiningentripletsG minorC minor piano quartetLudwig FinschermotifsdevelopmentMichael KennedyvariationsF minorAriadne auf NaxossyncopatedSchumannHans von BülowVossische ZeitungAllgemeiner Deutscher MusikvereinRichard PohlNew German SchoolFranz LisztViolin SonataDorianOndineVanguardArts MusicCentaurNash EnsembleHyperionMeridianFauré QuartetGenuinOxford University PressG. Henle VerlagDuke University PressVilla MusicaKennedy, MichaelHyperion RecordsLos Angeles PhilharmonicPohl, RichardManchester University PressInternational Music Score Library ProjectList of operasList of compositionsGuntramFeuersnotSalomeElektraDer RosenkavalierDie Frau ohne SchattenIntermezzoDie ägyptische HelenaArabellaDie schweigsame FrauFriedenstagDaphneDie Liebe der DanaeCapriccioJosephslegendeSchlagobersVerklungene FesteSymphony No. 1Violin ConcertoHorn Concerto No. 1Symphony No. 2Le bourgeois gentilhommeDance suite from keyboard pieces by François CouperinWiener Philharmoniker FanfareOlympische HymneJapanese Festival MusicDivertimento for chamber orchestra after keyboard pieces by CouperinHorn Concerto No. 2MetamorphosenOboe ConcertoDuet concertino for clarinet and bassoonTone poemsAus ItalienMacbethDon JuanDeath and TransfigurationTill Eulenspiegel's Merry PranksAlso sprach ZarathustraDon QuixoteEin HeldenlebenSymphonia DomesticaAn Alpine SymphonyPiano SonataCello Sonata in F majorEnoch ArdenLiederZueignungDie NachtAllerseelenWinternachtStändchenRuhe, meine Seele!CäcilieHeimliche AufforderungMorgen!Traum durch die DämmerungSehnsuchtDer ArbeitsmannBefreitNotturno