Par SENFTER JOHANNA. The number of well-known clarinet quintets is quite small. The only major composers whose clarinet quintets are relatively widespread are Mozart, Brahms, Weber and Reger. The composer Johanna Senfter (1879-1961) from Oppenheim admired the music of Johannes Brahms and of Max Reger who was her teacher. Her chamber music œuvre conveys a certain closeness to the clarinet. She even wrote a Sonata for clarinet, viola, horn and piano, op. 37, a Sonata for clarinet or viola and piano, op. 57, as well as a Trio for clarinet, horn and piano, op. 60. Continuing the historic line of Brahms and Reger, the clarinet quintet is steeped in the harmony, compositional style and expressiveness of her teacher Reger - a style which she developed even further and increased in expressiveness. This quintet is, without doubt, a valuable addition to the repertoire./ Répertoire / Clarinette et Quatuor à Cordes

Par SCHOENBERG ARNOLD. The two poems by Stefan George 'Litanei' and 'Rapture ' were worked by Schoenberg into a set of variations and into a finale far removed from traditional notions of form. The vocal reduction of the 3rd movement 'Litanei' is available as UE 6862, the vocal reduction for the 4th movement 'Entrückung ' is available as UE6863. The string parts are available as UE 2994. 'This quartet adds a new element to Schoenberg's creative oeuvre: brevity. It was already indicated by the succinctness of the Chamber Symphony and is clearly expressed in the structure of the F sharp minor Quartet with four shorter movements. There is only a small step from the harmonic language of this work to a complete renunciation of tonality. The last movement - although, in the main, belonging to F sharp mayor - no longer carries a key signature. Chromatic alteration turns the fourth chords into harmonies never heard before, free from any tonal context.' (Anton Webern)/ Répertoire / 2 Violons, Alto, Violoncelle et Soprano