Presents
Jose Pedro de Sant'anna Gomes
Six Pieces for String Quintet-2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Bass
José Pedro de Sant’Anna Gomes (1834-1908) was born in the Brazilian city or Campinas, today one of the larger cities in Brazil with over a million inhabitants, located some 60 miles northwest of São Paulo, He was an important composer as well as an important person in the history of Campinas His first music lessons were from his father who directed a marching band and who instructed his son on the clarinet. At the local music schools, he also learned to play the violin and piano as well as taking lessons in composition. Unlike his younger and better known brother Carlos Gomes, who moved to Milan and was a somewhat famous opera composer, Sant’anna as he is generally known, remained in Campinas. He enjoyed a multi-faceted career which included Director of Music for the city cathedral and Conductor of the City Orchestra. In addition, he was a city counsilor, a justice of the peace, president of a military junta, a merchant, a music teacher and a composer. He mostly wrote instrumental works, including two string quartets and eleven pieces for string quintet. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is as a supporter of his brother Carlos’ career, but during his life time, his orchestral compositions were played in São Paulo and as far away as Rio de Janeiro.
The six pieces included here were composed between 1882 (Saudade) and 1894 (Nenê). All of the pieces are based on Brazilian melodies. Nenê in Brazilian Portuguese is generally used as a term of endearment for a man. The music is a Brazilian version of a tango. Saudade in English means longing or yearning and the music portrays this as a long, slow, somewhat sad waltz. Berceuse and Minueto mean the same in English. The latter is a lively and upbeat dance. Frederiquinho means little freddy. And Dudu is a diminutive of the name Eduardo, used affectionately. However, the music might well have been written by Johann Strauss. It is a rather Viennese sounding romp.
Any one of these pieces would make a spended encore but together they are the length of a typical string quintet from the period. An excellent choice for quintet ensembles looking for an easy listening attractive concert piece and a fun play for amateurs.
Parts: $29.95
Parts & Score: $39.95
