Presents
Jakob Rosenhain
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Soundbites |
Am Abend, A Tone Poem for String Quartet or Quintet, Op.99
"Rosenhain's music is very attractive and should not be ignored," so wrote the respected chamber music critic David Wright. Am Abend (at evening), composed in 1888, tells the story of a young man who has planned an assignation, a secret meeting in the forest, with his lover. It is in the form of a theme followed by eight variations each of which are subtitled (see the soundbites above) and wonderfully describe his feelings. He enters the forest first, and after a while begins to worry, will she come. These thoughts lead to despair and daydreams of her. But just then, she appears and all is well. Originally for string quartet or quartet with bass, this very effective chamber music tone poem achieved almost instant popularity and led to Rosenhain's publisher requesting a version for orchestra as well. Sadly, like so many other fine works from the Romantic era, Am Abend fell into oblivion after the First World War, when it became the fashion to score all things from that time.
Jakob Rosenhain (1813-1894 also known as Jacques) was born in the German city of Mannheim where he studied piano with Jakob Schmitt and composition with Johann Kalliwoda. He was a child prodigy and continued on as a piano virtuoso at one point touring with Nicolo Paganini. He was widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and after the death of Johann Nepomuk Hummel in 1837 succeeded him as Music Director (Kapellmeister) in Weimar. At the same time, he continued making tours, especially to Paris where he often took part in chamber music concerts, eventually settling there. In Paris, he befriended and impressed Cherubini, Rossini and Berlioz who helped to promote his music. Hearing him play, Mendelssohn remarked, “When Rosenhain plays we hear the music as it was intended to be played and not how the performer wishes to play it.” His music was held in high regard not only by the musical public but also by composers such as Brahms who performed a Rosenhain piano concerto at his first public concert.
Long out of print, we are pleased to make this fine work available once again and recommend it both to professionals and amateurs. It makes a fine shorter concert work which is sure to please audiences.
| (A) String Quartet-Parts Only | $13.95 |
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| (B) String Quartet-Parts & Score | $18.95 |
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| (C) String Quartet & Bass-Parts | $15.95 |
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| (D) String Quartet & Bass-Parts & Score | $19.95 |
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