Presents
Jacques Widerkehr
String Quintet No.1 in C Major
For 2 Violins, 2 Violas and Violoncello
Jacques Widerkehr (1759-1823 sometimes spelled Wiederkehr) was born in the Alsatian city of Strasbourg. In his youth, he studied several instruments, including the bassoon and trombone, however, his main instrument was the cello which he studied with Joseph Dumonchau. He also studied composition with Franz Xaver Richter, music director of the Strasbourg Cathedral and an important composer. He arrived in Paris around 1783 and obtained positions in various orchestras, mostly as a cellist but occasionally as a bassoonist or trombonist. He was also active as a Professor at the Paris Conservatory and devoted himself to composing as well. By the 1790s, his instrumental works, in particular chamber music, his sonatas for oboe, and most notably his so-called Symphonies Concertantes were sought after by the leading Parisian publishing houses. His Symphonies Conccertante were widely considered among the very best. Contemporary reviews characterized his compositions as brilliant and very melodic with an excellent sense of instrumental colors and timbre.
While his Symphonies Concertantes and his Oboe Sonatas still receive concert performances and recordings, his chamber music has not received the same attention. It includes two string quintets, nine string quartets and several instrumental sonatas. His two string quintets were published at the same time, but without dates. Although some sources list their publication as 1808, this is contradicted by an examination of the plate numbers of his publisher, Imbault. Based on the plate numbers (779 and 780), the quintets were published between 1790 and 1794 and composed in the late 1780s. String Quintet No.1 in C Major is in four movements and opens with an attractive melody in the first violin played over a pulsing accompaniment in the other voices. As the movement is developed all of the other voices are given opportunities. The second movement, Menuetto, is in the form of a stately French style minuet of the type which was popular before the French Revolution. One could imagine the nobility dancing to such music. Next comes a singing Larghetto. The finale, Allegro ma non troppo, features a French folktune for the main theme which is interrupted by a short second interlude before further development.
This is an historically important work as it is one of the earliest string quintets by a French composer and is representative of French tastes in chamber music during this period. It is not at all hard to play and can be warmly recommended to amateur ensembles looking to present a string quintet in concert. We have reprinted the one and only edition. As you might expect, being over 200 years old, it is not the same as a modern edition but it is perfectly readable. The price reflects that this is a reprint of an old edition.
Parts: $24.95
