Op. 34-Bärenreiter?s scholarly-critical edition of Brahms? popular Quintet in F minor for piano and strings contains everything a cutting edge Urtext edition is meant to offer. It presents a solid and well researched musical text based on Brahms? autograph as well as the first edition and draws on the autograph of the two-piano version (composed six years later) for purposes of comparison. The edition also contains a discussion of the work?s historical context and performance practice as well as a comprehensive Critical Commentary with an evaluation of the sources and alternative readings.The editor Daniel Boomhower deals with the conflicting readings between the stringparts in the autograph engraver?s copy and those found in small print in the first published score as well as in the separate parts for that edition. Relevant readings from the two-piano version appear in the appendix of the Critical Commentary.New Bärenreiter Urtext editionExhaustive study of conflicting readingsNotes on performance practice (Eng/Ger)Informative Foreword (Eng/Ger) and Critical Commentary (Eng)

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.

This work was commissioned by Bath International Music Festival and BBC Radio 3. It was first performed on 30th May 2011 at the Assembly Rooms Bath by Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian Pipes) Joanna MacGregor (Piano) and theNavarra String Quartet.