Presents
Johanna Műller-Hermann
String Quintet in a minor, Op.7-World Premiere Edition
For 2 Violins, 2 Violas and Violoncello
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 Quintet in a minor was composed around 1909 and was dedicated to her main composition teacher Alexander Zemlinsky. It is surprising that it was never published in view of the fact that it is clearly a late Romantic era masterwork. In four movements, it begins with a questioning motif, Allegro moderato ma energico. A brief ad libitum cadenza in the first violin leads immediately to the main section which is restless and at times turbulent. Later, a more lyrical interlude is presented. The second movement, Scherzo, allegro vivace bursts forth with a powerful thrusting theme. A superb and strongly contrasting trio section with a slinky subject has an almost salon-like quality. The beautiful third movement, Adagio con espressione, sports a deeply felt main theme of intense emotion. This is followed by a wayward, yearning interlude. The finale begins with a melancholy Adagio introduction. The main part of the movement, Allegretto grazioso, could not be more different. It is light-hearted, bright and playful.
It is truly amazing that this work never saw the light of day until now. It cannot fail to make a very strong impression upon audiences who are lucky enough to hear it. We strongly encourage professional musicians to bring it to concert. By no means an easy work from an ensemble standpoint, stillit is not beyond experienced amateur players who are at home with the chamber music of Bruckner and the early tonal works of Zemlinsky and Schoenberg. Our edition was made by senior editor Garik Hayrapetyan from a manuscripts of two sets of parts which were made by Műller-Hermann in her own hand and which can be found in the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Austrian National Library).
Parts: $39.95
Parts & Score: $59.95
