Presents
Friedrich Ernst Fesca
String Quintet No.4 in B flat Major, Op.20
Friedrich Ernst Fesca (1789-1826) was born in the German town of Magdeburg. He studied piano and violin with several different teachers, including for a short time Ludwig Spohr. By age 16 had already obtained a position as a violinist in the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Not long after, he was employed as solo violinist to the Court of Jerome Bonaparte, at that time, King of Westphalia. After this he lived for a while in Vienna where he befriended the famous violinist, Ignaz Schuppanzigh, first violinist of the famous Beethoven Razumovsky String Quartet. Fesca's final years were spent working in Karlsruhe along with fellow composer Franz Danzi. He composed in nearly every genre from opera to solo piano works, however, the bulk of his out put was chamber music. Carl Maria von Weber, writing of Fesca’s chamber music, had this to say. “Mr. Fesca is completely master of whatever he undertakes to express. I am fully convinced of his remarkable talent. His works are carefully written, thoroughly elaborated and richly flavored." Fesca was widely hailed as a worthy successor to Haydn and Mozart and his quartets were frequently performed on a regular basis up until the middle of the 19th century when they began to disappear.
Fesca, as a violinist in a famous string quartet, was obviously very familiar with chamber music. String Quintet No.4 in B flat Major, Op.20 was dedicated to Wilhelm Heinrichshofen (1782-1881), the founder of the famous music publishing firm bearing his name. He also also came from Magdeburg and was a friend of Fesca's. The opening movement begins with a Poco a adagio introduction which leads to the main section a genial and rather relaxed Allegro. The second movement a beautiful Andantino features the lead violin singing a melody over the pizzicati over the other voices. Slowly the tempo picks up as the others join in. The third movement is simply marked Scherzo without a tempo marking. In actuality, it is a lively, quick-packed, lilting minuetto. The finale, Allegro non troppo, is a jolly, rustic, toe-tapping country dance.
A good work which audiences will certainly appreciate if brought into the concert hall but also a fine choice for amateurs.
Parts: $29.95
