Presents
Théodore Dubois
String Quartet No.1 in E flat Major
Théodore Dubois (1837-1924) was born in the French town of Rosnay. After an impressive career at the Paris Conservatory, where he studied with Ambroise Thomas, he won the coveted Prix de Rome. Among the many important positions he held during a long career was that of director of the Madeleine, where he succeeded Saint-Saëns, and later of the Paris Conservatory. Among his many students were Paul Dukas and Florent Schmitt. Dubois wrote a considerable amount of music in nearly every genre. Like Saint Saëns, with whom he was almost an exact contemporary, he eschewed impressionism, and continued on in the French Romantic tradition which the former had helped to pioneer. It is characterized by, logic, clarity, fine melody, drama and a refined sense of taste. His music is finely crafted and clearly shows that he was a gifted melodist. For much of his career, he concentrated on vocal works, opera and organ compositions and did not turn to chamber music until well into his sixties in the first part of the 20th century. By then Impressionism was in vogue and the critics as well as the public paid little attention to his traditional late French Romantic style which was by then considered outdated, despite its excellence..
The String Quartet No.1 in E flat Major dates from 1909 by which time he was 72. It is quite an interesting work, original with nothing like it. It begins with a lengthy Larghetto introduction which is by turns very romantic and then dramatic building tension toward the main section Allegro. The second movement, an excellent, high spirited Allegro animato, is a playful scherzo. In third place is a sad and valedictory Larghetto which provides a strong contrast to the previous movement. The finale, Allegro vivo, is a very energetic and full of drama and forward motion..
This is a first rate work by any standard and marvelous example of late French romanticism. It is a great pity that it has remained unknown and virtually unobtainable outside of France, it has even been long out of print there. We are pleased to reintroduce it and hope that it will find a place on the music stands of both professionals and amateurs alike.
Parts $24.95
Parts & Score: $39.95
