John McCabe's Nocturnal For Piano Quintet was composed in 1966 commissioned by the Park Lane Group London and first performed by the Lancaster University Ensemble. Duration: Approximately 13 minutes. Composers Note:  The title of this work is a reference to John Donne's poem A Nocturnal upon St Lucie's Day the mood of which is reflected in the quintet. It falls into several movements played without a break: Introduction (Andante) setting forth the main thematic ideas of the music; Nocturne 1 (Allegro vivo) an agitated virtuoso scherzo-like section; a tripartite central part of the work consisting of two Cadenzasframing a brief Interlude the first Cadenza being largely for strings the second mainly for piano and the Interlude harking back to the feeling of the Introduction; Nocturne 2 (Andante molto) a slow piece gradually building to a unison theme on strings accompanied by a tolling piano background. This dies down to lead to an Epilogue ending with a final reference to the work's opening bars. 

arranged for Pianoforte and String Quintet-Concerto for Pianoforte and Orchestra No.4 Op.58: arranged for Pianoforte and String Quintet.Piano Violin (2) Viola (2) Violoncello.This anonymous sextet arrangement of Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto was highly popular in Vienna during the composer’s lifetime. We know this from at least two sets of handwritten parts which were then in circulation.No Piano part has been handed down; indeed the original sets of parts probably omitted the Piano.The soloist presumably studied his part from the first edition of the solo part published with the original performance material in 1808. (The full score did not appear until 1861).The sextetversion deftly integrates the original wind parts into the string texture. The arrangement stands in the tradition of Piano reductions with chamber music accompaniment of the sort which were also made for Mozart’s Piano concertos K.413 to 415 and later for the Chopin concertos.This Urtext edition edited by the renowned Beethoven scholar Jonathan Del Mar presents this arrangement for the first time in print. The musical text is supplemented by an informative Introduction and a Critical Commentary.First ever publication of this arrangement.Includes a separate solo part as was customary in Beethoven’s day.Provides new possibilities for soloists to perform this work.

Joe Cutler's Jiggadybox for Piano Quintet.The Jiggadybox is a strange musical contraption designed by the eighteenth century Swiss inventor gambler and philosopher Rudolf von Stengl. When finally wound the jiggadybox begins its characteristic ?jigga-ing? and at this point all its pistons and mechanisms whirl and dance to the sound of a strange jerky rhythm which is produced deep inside the box by an unknown and mysterious source.A word of warning: Care and attention must be taken when winding the jiggadybox up because the winding device is very old and delicate. Secondly being a prototype-model the jiggadybox has a tendency to overheat inthe midst of its jigga-ing?. - Joe CutlerComission made possible by Annie and Mark Bailey.

Par MILHAUD DARIUS. 1. Avec Vivacite; 2. Avec Mystère; 3. Avec Douceur; 4. Avec Emportement/ Répertoire / 2 Violons, Alto, Violoncelle et Piano

This work composed in 1878/79 alternates between chamber music intimacy and symphonic opulence and marks the beginning of a series of significant late works by César Franck. Its composition was partly prompted by the successfulperformance of Franck?s youthful piano trios at the ?Société nationale de musique? (founded in 1871) and probably also by a composition competition for works using this instrumental combination whose deadline Franck then went onto miss. The Quintet was received coolly at its first performance in January 1880 and it was performed just a few more times during the composer?s lifetime. It was only in the 20th century that audiences and critics came torecognise this work as a major milestone in the history of French chamber music and it now adorns the Henle catalogue in a new Urtext edition.