Presents
Dmitry Bortniansky
Piano Quartet in C Major or
Quintet for Violin, Viola, Cello, Harp and Piano
Dmitry Bortniansky (1751-1825) was born in Hluchiw, the capital of the semi-autonomous hetmanate in the Russian Empire. At the age of seven, the Russian-Ukrainian opera singer Mark Poltorazki, who was authorized by Tsarina Elizabeth to find Ukrainian boys to sing in the Imperial Choir, brought Bortniansky to the court choir in St. Petersburg as a choirboy. There he studied with Baldassare Galuppi, director of the Imperial Choir. Galuppi took Bortniansky with him to Italy, where several of Bortniansky’s operas were performed to acclaim. After returning to St. Petersburg in 1779, he was appointed Director of the Imperial Choir and made a Court Councilor by Tsar Paul I in 1796. Under his leadership, the Imperial Choir gained a European reputation. In 1814, Bortnianski was commissioned to write an official version of the liturgy for Russian Orthodox services throughout the Russian Empire. His polyphonic style that he had got to know in Italy was said to be reminiscent of Palestrina. Bortniansky also composed chamber music and piano sonatas, although very little seems to have survived.
We have reprinted the first and only edition of his Quintet in C Major which dates from 1787 and which is based on the manuscript preserved in the Saltykov-Schedrin National Public Library of St. Petersburg. It is an unusual work in that it is scored for Violin, Viola or Viola da Gamba, Violoncello, Harp and Piano. It seems strange that the manuscript mentions Viola da Gamba and not the viola. Strange because by 1787, the Viola da Gamba was an instrument that had fallen out of fashion for nearly half a century. Gambas had been replaced by the smaller and more pentrating violin family. In the printed edition, only the viola is mentioned. As for the harp, it is hard to understand why Bortniansky included it for it is silent for much of the work and when playing does little more than double the piano part. As such, nothing is lost by playing the work as a standard piano quartet. It is in three movements, a tuneful typical Allegro moderato, a lyrical Larghetto and a dance-like rondo, Allegro.
(A) Quartet for Violin, Viola, Cello & Piano $34.95 (B) Quintet for Violin, Viola, Cello, Harp & Piano $39.95
