Presents
George Onslow
String Quintet No.9 in C Major, Op.25--New Edition
For 2 Violins, Viola & 2 Cellos or 2 Violins 2 Violas & Cello or 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Bass
Schumann and Mendelssohn ranked Onslow's chamber music with that of Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn. As such, George Onslow (1784-1853), certainly illustrates the fickleness of fame. During his lifetime, Onslow, above all, was known as the composer of string quintets for 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos. With the exception of Boccherini, all of the other major composers before him, including Mozart and Beethoven, wrote string quintets for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello. (Schubert's great work remained undiscovered until 1850 and unknown for another decade after that.) He was born the son of an English father and French mother. His 36 string quartets and 34 string quintets were, during his own lifetime and up to the end of the 19th century, held in the highest regard, particularly in Germany, Austria and England where he was regularly placed in the front rank of composers. His work was admired by both Beethoven and Schubert, the latter modeling his own 2 cello quintet (D.956) on those of Onslow and not, as is so often claimed, on those of Boccherini. As tastes changed after the First World War, his music, along with that of so many other fine composers, fell into oblivion and up until 1984, the bicentennial of his birth, he remained virtually unknown. Since then, his music, to the delight of players and listeners alike, is slowly being rediscovered, played and recorded. Onslow’s writing was unique in that he was successfully able to merge the drama of the opera into the chamber music idiom perfected by the Vienna masters.
String Quintet No.9 in d minor was the third of a set composed in 1824. At first, little attention was paid to it, however, by 1830, it had entered the standard repertoire and remained a favorite for several decades thereafter. In Germany, musical critics hailed it as “a superior composition, dazzling by virtue of its straight forward, inspired melodies which remain memorable after the first hearing.” Until the end of the 19th century, one could find it regularly on programs with such works as quintets by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Beethoven. The sunny opening movement, Allegro, is upbeat and genial The second movementAndante sostenuto, is quite striking. the rhythm sets an ominous and threatening mood which is retained for much of the movement although it is briefly interrupted by brighter interludes. Next is a lively, fleet Minuetto, presto which stands out by virtue of repeated pounding notes every few bars. The finale, Allegretto, is a toe-tapping triumphant march.
Our edition has removed the so-called "false treble clef" in the first cello part which appears extensively in all of the other previous editions and which has always been a problem for cellists. Instead, we have substituted the bass and tenor clefs which greatly improves the readability. We have also added rehearsal numbers which no previous edition has had.
| (A) 2 Violins, Viola & 2 Cellos-Parts | $29.95 |
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| (B) 2 Violins, Viola & 2 Cellos-Parts & Score | $39.95 |
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| (C) 2 Violins, 2 Violas & Cello-Parts | $29.95 |
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| (D) 2 Violins, 2 Violas & Cello-Parts & Score | $39.95 |
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| (E) 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Bass-Parts | $29.95 |
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| (F) 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Bass-Parts & Score | $39.95 |
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| (G) All 7 Parts | $39.95 |
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| (H) All 7 Parts & Score | $49.95 |
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