Polka Schnell F. Klar., 2 Vl., Vla., Vc.. Par STRAUSS JOHANN (FILS). Weil kultivierte Geselligkeit ohne Musik kaum denkbar ist, konnte das traditionsreiche Verlagshaus Doblinger kaum einen besseren Titel als 'Wiener Melange' für seine Reihe mit Alt-Wiener Tanzmusik wählen, in der effektvolle und gut spielbare Bearbeitungen populärer Kompositionen von Johann Strauß Sohn u. a. erschienen sind. Die Besetzung orientiert sich an den Gepflogenheiten bürgerlicher Haus- und Salonmusik - was dem ungarischen Fürsten die eigene Hofkapelle im Ballsaal seiner Wiener Residenz, war dem Geheimen Rat das Streichquartett im großbürgerlichen Salon (oft übernahm dabei der klangstärkere Kontrabass die Stelle des Cellos)./ Répertoire / Musique de Chambre

Par KRAUS JOSEPH MARTIN. The first volume of the new scholarly edition contains the complete chamber music without a keyboard instrument. The most important group of works comprises the string quartets, 10 of which have survived. They were composed during the 1770s, whenHaydn was developing this class of music. The differing balance between such contrasting musical elements as entries in imitation, courtly melody, swift changes of tempo and unexpected modulations gives each of the quartets its special charm. Thefact that six of them were published in 1784 as Krauss 'Opus 1' by the publisher J. J. Hummel shows that the composer himself was convinced by his quartets. With the Flute quintet this volume alsocontains another key work in Kraus’s chamber music. Composed in Vienna about 1783 and also issued in manuscript copies, this work was printed by Ignaz Pleyel in Paris in 1799./ Répertoire / Ensemble de Chambre

Michael Nyman's Musique A Grande Vitesse (MGV) translates as ‘high speed music’ and was commissioned by the Festival de Lille for the inauguration of the TGV North EuropeanParis-Lille line in 1993. This piece of sheet music runs continuously but was conceived as an abstract imaginary journey; or rather five inter-connected journeys each ending with a slow mainly stepwise melody which isonly heard in its 'genuine' form when the piece reaches its destination. Thematic 'transformation' is a key to MGV as a whole. Throughout the piece ideas - rhythmic melodic harmonic motivic textural -constantly change their identity as they pass through different musical 'environments'. The opening bars establish both a recurrent rhythmic principle - 9 11 or 13-beat rhythmic cycles heard against a regular 8 - and aharmonic process - chord sequences (mainly over C and E) which have the note E in common. (Coincidentally MGV begins in C and ends in E). A later scalic syncopated figure (again first heard over C E and A)begins the second section featuring Brass in D flat. The topography of MGV should be experienced without reference to planning description or timetables. Its tempo changes and unpredictable slowings downbear no logical relation to the high speed of the Paris-Lille journey while the temptation to treat MGV as a concerto grosso with the Michael Nyman band as the ripeno was resisted: more suitably theband (amplified in live performance) lays down the tracks on which MGV runs.

Fine edition contains all eight Piano trios the two Piano quartets and the Piano quintet reprinted from the definitive Breitkopf and Hartel editions. All of these works display the melodic richness inventiveness and inimitable grace that characterize Mozart's finest compositions. Indispensable for pianists and chamber musicians.