Presents
Caspar Joseph Brambach
Piano Quartet No.1 in E flat Major, Op.13
Caspar Joseph Brambach (1833-1902), also known as Carl Joseph Brambach, was born in in the German village of Oberdollendorf directly across the Rhine river from the city of Bonn. His early music lessons were from his father. At age 15, he began formal studies on the violin as an external student at the Cologne Conservatory while at the same time working as the concertmaster of the Bonn Opera House Orchestra. When he turned 18, he was admitted to the Cologne Conservatory as a regular student. There, he won several awards for his chamber music and songs. After graduating, he continued his studies privately with Ferdinand Hiller and Carl Reinecke before he himself became a teacher. In 1861, he obtained the position of Municipal Music Director of the City of Bonn. His chamber music and his songs received great attention and praise and were widely performed throughout Germany. The style of his instrumental works can be described as Post-Mendelsohnian with a rich, lyrical, cantabile, singing style.
His Piano Quartet No.1 in E flat Major was completed in 1868 and was dedicated to Clara Schumann. The opening movement begins with a short, sweet Andante introduction leading to a bright, upbeat Schumannesque Allegro molto, full of energy. In the the big second movement, Adagio, the piano introduces the sober main theme before the strings enter to restate it. After the Adagio comes a scherzo-like Allegro-quasi Andante con moto and by then it comes clear that the movement, though not so marked is a kind of loose set of variations. The third movement, Molto allegro vivace quasi presto, is a breathless, nervous scherzo full of forward energy with vague echoes of Mendelssohn. A contrasting and more lyrical middle section given over to the strings provides a fine contrast. In the finale, the piano pounds out a short, powerful introduction before the trimphant main theme is given out. The music is jovial and full of good spirits.
This is a first rate work, really as good as anything being written around this time (1860-70). Unlike the works of so many other contemporary composers, it owes nothing to Brahms, which gives it an appealing freshness. Certainly a work which deserves concert performance.
Parts: $34.95
