Presents

Reinhold Gliere

Soundbite 1st Movt Soundbite 2nd Movt Soundbite 3rd Movt Soundbite 4th Movt Soundbites courtesy  of Richard Golib & Daniel Carraxco, Jr.

String Sextet No.1 in c minor, Op.1

“His first chamber work was a sextet, which set forth all the merits of the young composer: Mastery of form, fine and expressive melody and excellent musical taste."----Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music

" String Sextet No.1 was published in 1902. The opening Allegro begins in highly dramatic fashion with a unisono passage in all the voices. The main theme is truly impressive and is followed by a warm, appealing lyrical second subject. The writing is full of excellent effects. The spirited second movement, Allegro vivace, is a playful perpetuo mobile. The Andante which follows has a broad, song-like melody with ostinato accompaniment. The faster and quite dramatic middle section provides fine contrast. The finale, Allegro vivace, also begins in unisono fashion, the main theme is characterized by its powerful dance rhythm. This work certainly belongs in the concert hall. It presents no special technical difficulties and is highly recommended to amateur players."----Wilhelm Altmann in his Chamber Music Handbook.

The reputation of Reinhold Gliere (sometimes spelled Glier 1875-1956) today rests primarily upon his symphonies, ballets and operas, however he was also a composer of superb chamber music. He began his first musical studies with the famous violin teacher Otakar Sevcik and then went to the Moscow Conservatory where he studied with Sergei Taneyev, Anton Arensky and Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov. His superb compositional technique was quickly recognized by his teachers and he won several prizes for his early works, including his First String Sextet which took the prestigious Glinka Prize from a jury consisting of Rimsky-Korsakov, Glazunov and Liadov.  Gliere, himself, taught at the Moscow and Kiev conservatories for nearly 40 years. Among his many successful students were Khachturian, Prokofiev and Miaskovsky.

Out of print for more than half a century, we are pleased to reintroduce it and highly recommend it to professionals and amateurs everywhere.