George Onslow String Quintet No.23 in a minor, Op.58

Although the first 3 of Onslow's string quintets were for the standard 2 violins, 2 violas and cello, thereafter, his quintets, with the exception of his last three, were for 2 cellos and one viola. Onslow began providing alternative bass parts to all of his subsequent quintets, in lieu of a second cello, after hearing the famous bassist Dragonetti substitute for an absent second cellist during a performance of his tenth string quintet. String Quintet No.23, Op.58 dates from the beginning of his late period. It was completed in 1836 and immediately published whereupon it became immensely popular. It is not hard to understand why. The opening movement, Allegro non tanto vivo, begins with a series of ominous, powerful chords leading to the main theme, a yearning subject which is then followed by a lively, somewhat nervous subject complete with several fetching chromatic runs. A third theme of destiny follows. In the Adagio sostenuto which comes next, the Bass (2d cello) is given the first few bars alone. A series of beautiful, lyrical melodies follow. The middle section has a march-like accompaniment to the violin's dramatic lead. Eventually, the bass comes forward to develop this ominous mood. The third movement, although marked Menuetto, allegro impetuoso, is actually a scherzo, full of dramatic, pounding, downward plunging chromatic passages. There is a dancing through the daisies contrasting trio.The finale, Allegro non tanto vivace, is full of nervous energy and hard driving forward motion throughout. A thrilling and exciting movement for which of the sort for which Onslow was justly famous.

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.) Schumann and Mendelssohn ranked Onslow's chamber music with that of Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn. George Onslow (1784-1853), certainly illustrates the fickleness of fame. 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.

Here is another of Onslow's very best works and certainly one of the best string quintets to be found.

(A) 2 Violins, Viola & 2 Cellos-Parts	$29.95
(Aa) 2 Violins, Viola & 2 Cellos-Parts & Score	$39.95
(B) 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Bass-Parts	$29.95
(Bb) 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Bass-Parts & Score	$39.95
(C) All Six Parts	$36.95
(D) All Six Parts & Score	$46.95

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