Presents
Friedrich Ernst Fesca
String Quartet No.11 in f minor, Op.7 No.1--New Edition
Whereas Fesca's string quartets in major keys tend to be genial, sunny works filled with pleasant music but very little drama, this is not the case of his quartets written in minor keys. Certainly his String Quartet No.11 in f minor, Op.7 No.1 while not particularly dark and brooding, though exciting cannot be said to be sunny. It was the first of a set of two completed in 1817 and dedicated to Baron Karl von Freydorf. The opening movement Allegro, has a sense of yearning and is characterized by its forward motion. The second movement, Larghetto con moto, is calm and peaceful. This is followed by a hard-driving and energetic Menuetto, allegro. Certainly, it is not a minuet which could be danced to. Scherzo would have been a far more appropriate movement title. A lovely German ländler-like trio section provides a fine contrast.The nervous finale, Allegro, begins with a start-stop stutter step before it gets going. But once it does there is a continual sense of movement to the attractive themes.
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.
This is unquestionably a first rate work deserving concert hall performance where it will make a strong impression on audiences which are lucky enough to hear it.
Parts: $24.95
Parts & Score: $34.95
