Presents
Frederic d'Erlanger
Piano Quintet in c minor
It is always exciting to stumble upon a masterwork by an unknown composer. And the Piano Quintet in c minor by Frederic d’Erlanger is just such a work. Frederic d’Erlanger (1868-1943) was the son of a wealthy Parisian banker. He studied piano and composition with Anselm Ehmant a German pianist then teaching in Paris. At the age of 18 in 1886, he moved to England to work in the London branch of his father’s bank. There, he spent the rest of his life. Independently wealthy, he was known as a patron of the arts. Like Alexander Borodin and George Onslow, he did not earn his living as a composer. Like them, he composed in his spare time when not working as a banker. While not a particularly prolific composer, he did write a fair amoung of works including operas, a violin concerto, a ballet, several works for orchestra and a string quartet as well as this piano quintet.
The Quintet dates from 1901 and premiered the following year by Johann Kruse and his string quartet with d'Erlander at the piano. Kruse was a well-known violin virtuoso who played in the Joachim Quartet, often substituting for Joachim and eventually forming his own quartet. The quintet was well-received and subsequently published by Simrock of Berlin, one of Europe’s leading music publishers but despite this. it failed to gain a foothold in the German speaking lands, perhaps because d'Erlander was thought to be an Englishman and few works by English composers gained any ground on the continent.
The work opens with a massive Allegro moderato with a powerful, searching melody for its first subject. The integration of the strings with the piano writing is first rate. Lyricism and emotion are present throughout. The second movement, Andante, is rich in melody and songlike. A stunning Scherzo, perhaps the highlight of the quintet, follows. Exciting and nervous and full of forward motion, the music rushes along breathlessly, a real tour de force. A slower trio-like section provides fine contrast. The finale, Allegro ma non troppo, is begins in epic fashion, energetic and thrusting, its powerful themes hold the listener’s from the first chords to the final measure.
Had this quintet been composed by a known German or Austrian, it almost certainly would have entered the repertoire. It is a shame that it disappeared. Long out of print, we are very pleased to make it available once again and hope that it will receive the attention that it deserves.
Parts: $39.95
