Presents
Pierre August Louis Blondeau
String Quartet in F Major, Op.14 No.3
Pierre
Auguste Louis Blondeau (1786-1863) was born in Paris. He entered the Paris
Conservatory where he studied violin with the famous virtuoso Pierre Baillot and
composition with France's leading opera composer Etienne Mehul. In 1807, he was
runner-up and in the following year he won the prestigious Prix de Rome for
composition allowing him to travel to Italy for further study. Blondeau gained a
reputation as a music historian and theorist. Ironically, as a composer, he was
better known for his superb transcriptions of all of Beethoven's piano sonatas
into string quartet than for his own quartets. While several others produced
similiar arrangements, Blondeau's put all of the others to shame. You can here
one of them by clicking
here. Blondeau was
also an active performing chamber musician which in no small part allowed him to
produce such fine transcriptions. Throughout the 19th century these arrangements
were much in demand throughout Europe. Some scholars even believe that Beethoven
actually ordered them to be made.
Blondeau's String Quartet in F Major, Op.14 No.3 is the third of a set of three published around 1820 and dedicated to the French composer Francois-Adrien Boieldieu. . However, we believed they were composed sometime around 1810. The opening Moderato begins with a lovely, lyrical theme in the violin. The accompaniment creates an air of excitement. The main theme to the charming Andante which follows sounds like an aria Mozart could have written it for one of his operas. Perhaps it was. After the theme is full stated, a serious of fine variations follow. Third comes an original sounding Minuetto allegro with very effective use of pizzicato. A nicely contrasting trio tops off the movement. The finale, Allegro non troppo, is a rustic peasant dance, with a 'kick up your heels' melody played over double stops in the lower voices.
This makes a good selection for concert performance and a superb choice for amateurs looking for a concert work as it virtually plays itself while sounding quite convincing. We have reprinted the one and only edition.
Parts: $24.95
