Presents
Johanna Műller-Hermann
String Quartet in E flat Major, Op.6
Johanna Műller-Hermann (1868-1941) was born in Vienna as Johanna Hermann. She received violin and piano lessons at an early age and wished to become a musician but due to circumstances of the time this was not possible and she entered a teacher training school and subsequently taught at a Vienna primary school to support herself until she was able to marry, which allowed her to quit teach and study music. She continued her violin and piano lessons and studied composition with several prominent composers including Joseph Labor, Guido Adler, Josef Bohuslav Foerster, Franz Schmidt and Alexander Zemlinsky. In 1918, she succeeded Foerster as Professor of Music Theory at the New Vienna Conservatory. She wrote in most genres includng chamber music. During her lifetime, she was considered one of the leading women composers in the German speaking world.
Her String Quartet in E flat Major dates from 1910 and was dedicated to her main composition teacher Alexander Zemlinsky. In four movements, it begins with a quiet, flowing Moderato. Soon however, tension is built with extensive chromaticism. The second movement, Allegro vivace, is a hard-driving, thrusting Allegro vivace with very lyrical and chromatic slower part. The third movement is a languid Adagio. An exciting and nervous finale, Allegro vivace, is full of forward motion.
A historically important work because very few Austrian women were writing music of this type and quality from this period. Highly original and thought provoking, it professionals who bring it to concert will not be disappointed by their audiences.
Parts: $29.95
Parts & Score: $38.95
