Written for a Quintet with Violin Viola Cello and Bassoon and Piano the Quintet in A Major (Trout)Op.114 is a wonderful early composition by these great Austrian master. It was Franz Schubert's first turly significant chamber work and this 1819 piece is indicative of his romantic genius and melodic warmth.

The composition cost him his sleep. In October 1842 when Schumann had finished his Piano quintet in a short period of time he was physically and emotionally drained. The work in no way reflects this quite thecontrary. ?Full of strength and freshness? said Clara Schumann of the new composition as well as ?extremely brilliant and effective?. Even Richard Wagner added his voice to the great wave of admiration. Thus Op.44 soon became one of Schumann?s most successful compositions which today is still a jewel in chamber music literature. If the quartet reminds one of a Piano concerto with Orchestra in String quartet format attimes this is explained by the fact that it was intended for Clara?s repertoire. The work was also dedicated to this brilliant pianist.

Par MUSTONEN OLLI. The first movement of my Piano Quintet is filled with drama and passion. Its atmosphere can be related to my Second Symphony Johannes Angelos. The second movement is a set of polyphonic variations in a form reminiscent of a passacaglia. The music seems to be hypnotized by a theme consisting of a chromatic cluster of ten notes. In the beginning of the last movement, materials from the previous movements start to reappear, but this time in a mysterious, incoherent way. The strings find new music resembling a fragmented hymn. Fast-moving triplets start to appear and the music reaches a joyful and ecstatic conclusion. Olli Mustonen / Niveau : 5 / Répertoire / 2 Violons, Alto, Violoncelle et Piano