Presents
Peter Hänsel
String Quartet in B flat Major, Op.37
Peter Hänsel (sometimes spelled Haensel, 1770-1831) was born in the town Leppe in what was then Prussian Silesia. He was trained as a violinist and worked in Warsaw and St. Petersburg before obtaining employment in Vienna where he studied composition with Haydn during the 1790’s. Other than two years he spent in Paris during 1802-1803, his entire life was spent in Vienna, working as a violinist and composer. He devoted himself almost exclusively to the genre of chamber music, writing nearly 60 string quartets, 6 string trios, 5 string quintets and works for several other small ensembles. His style remained firmly rooted in the classical era and is closely related to that of his teacher Haydn but he also introduced French and Polish elements into his works, the result of his sojourning in those lands.
His String Quartet in B flat Major, Op.37 dates from 1828 and is one of the last ones he composed. Hänsel’s style remained fairly consistent throughout his lifetime and despite the date of the composition, he remained true to the late Vienna Classical Style which he learned from Haydn. The opening Allegro is an appealing Haydnesque affair, lively and jovial. The second movement, Andante poco adagio, is stately, noble and lyrical. In third place is a playful Scherzo, allegro which clearly shows the influence of Haydn with its use of rhythm. A lyrical and slower trio follows. The finale, Vivace, with its use of triplets, calls to mind a steeple chase or bumpious ride over the country side.
We have reprinted a clean copy of the first edition. This is an excellent work from the late classical era which can be recommended to both amateurs and professionals.
Parts: $24.95
