Presents
Franz Krommer
String Quartet in A flat Major, Op.72 No.3-New Edition
Krommer's String Quartet in A flat Major, Op.72 No.3, was completed around 1813 and is firmly in his middle period which though still looking back at the Classical era, also looks forward to the early Romantic. His life spanned the Mannheim, Vienna Classical and early Romantic periods and his music evolved over time. In four movements, the opening Allegro moderato is quite interesting in that it opens in what appears to be a rather slow tempo which is created by the use of notes of longer time value. However, the real tempo can be heard as passages of quicker notes appear. A lovely Adagio is the work’s center of gravity, while a typical Viennese classical Menuetto follows. The finale, Moderato has an unusual beginning which is entrusted entirely to the two lower voices, the viola and the cello. When the violins enter, excitement builds.
Franz Krommer (1759-1831) was one of the most successful composers in Vienna at the turn of the 18th Century. His reputation was attested to by the fact that his works were frequently republished throughout Germany, England, France, Italy, Scandinavia and the U.S. According to contemporaries, he was regarded along with Haydn as the leading composer of string quartets and as a serious rival of Beethoven. Krommer was a Czech violinist of considerable ability who came to Vienna around 1785. For the following 10 years he held appointments at various aristocratic courts in Hungary. He returned to Vienna in 1795 where he remained until his death, holding various positions including that of Court Composer (Hofmusiker) to the Emperor, Franz I. There are more than 300 compositions which were at one time or another published, much of which is chamber music. Wilhelm Altmann, in his Handbook for String Quartet Players writes that "Krommer knew how to write for string instruments and as a result what he wrote sounds brilliant."
Our new edition is based on the 1814 Pleyel edition. We feel this makes a good concert piece and a work which amateurs will also enjoy.
Parts: $24.95
Parts & Score: $31.95
