Presents
Erkki Melartin
String Quartet No.1 in e minor, Op.36 No.1
Erkki Melartin's String Quartet No.1 in e minor is the first of a set of three known as his Op.36 in 1904, the manuscripts to these quartets can be found in the library of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Our edition is based on those manuscripts. Although given the same opus number, they were not written one after the other but over a period of six years. No.1 dates from 1896 when the composer was 21. It is in four movements and begins with an Allegro that features a lovely opening theme, somewhat on the melancholy side. A light, Brahmsian second subject follows. The second movement, Menuetto scherzando is a blend of an updated minuet as a kind of relaxed scherzo. It comes with a finely contrasting trio. The Andante which serves as the third movement, though not so marked, is an attractive theme followed by a series of original sounding and engaging variations. The finale, Presto, bursts forth and the comes to a sudden stop before finally taking off at full speed. The main subject conveys a sense of urgency and is followed by a more genial second theme. This is an excellent quartet deserving of concert performance and can also be recommended to experienced amateur players.
Erkki Melartin (1875-1937) was born in the Finnish town of Käkisalmi. He studied with Martin Wegelius in Helsinki and then in Vienna with Robert Fuchs. He pursued a career as a composer, conductor and teacher, serving as the director of the Helsinki Conservatory. He was a prolific composer who wrote in most genres. His music shows the influence of Mahler and is primarily written in the late, post Brahmsian idiom. He did not ignore chamber music and composed a piano quintet, a string quintet, four string quartets and several short works for piano trio. Unfortunately, most of these have remained languishing in manuscript form in libraries and have not been published. His work, as the quartet clearly shows, is quite accomplished and indicates that he was a first rate composer whose music deserves to enter the repertoire and to be heard on a regular basis.
Parts: $29.95
