Presents
Frank Martin
Piano Quintet in d minor
Frank Martin (1890–1974) was born in the Swiss city of Geneva, the youngest child of a Calvinist minister. He started to compose at the age of eight. A performance of the St. Matthew Passion heard at the age of ten left a deep impression on him and influenced much of his early music before he was won over to serialism, the neo classicism of Stravinsky and jazz. Joseph Lauber, a student of Rheinberger, was his only musical teacher, Martin never went to a conservatory but was able to pursue a career as a conductor of various musical organizations mostly in his home town of Geneva. He composed works in most every genre.
The influence of Bach's harmony is apparent in his Piano Quintet, composed in 1919-21 and hence was a relatively early work. In it we hear deep emotion in the form of updated Bachian invention and contrapuntal skill. The first movement, Andante con moto, has an almost tragic intensity. The second movement, Tempo di Menuetto, is a latterday minuet with a rather shadowy charm. The third movement, Adagio ma non troppo, is like a Bach aria. The finale, Presto, the fourth a jubilantly dancing, affair that eventually reveals a folk song as its source.
The whole work is nicely crafted and likeable, and interesting in the way that the piano and the strings are set off against each other. It deserves concert performance and can also be recommended to expereinced amateur players.
Parts: $39.95
