DCD 079 - Fanny Mendelssohn's Chamber Music

Episode #79 of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" presents three works from a Troubadisc CD. "Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: Piano Chamber Music" includes music composed when she was young, after her marriage, and the year of her death.

Although not given the same career opportunities as her brother Felix, Fanny enjoyed a rich creative life. While her father expected her to abandon composing after marriage, her husband, Prussian court painter Wilhelm Hensel encouraged Fanny to continue.

The music on this recording presents a fascinating look at this very talented composer.

- Ralph

This program we play:

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: Piano Quartet in A-flat major, mvt. 1

Renate Eggebrecht, violin; David Cann, viola, Friedemann Kupsa, cello; Stefan Mickisch, piano

Troubadisc

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: String Quartet in E-flat major, mvts. 2 & 3

Fanny Mendelssohn Quartet

Troubadis

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 11, final mvt.

Renate Eggebrecht, violin; Friedemann Kupsa, cello; Stefan Mickisch, piano

Troubadisc

DCD 078 - Beethoven's Forgotten String Quartets

Monument Records is a label dedicated to the music of Beethoven. But not just the standard repertoire of Beethoven. Rather, Monument explores the more unusual parts of Beethoven's output. Their release "Beethoven: Forgotten String Quartets" is a good example.

This CD brings together a variety of mostly unheard scraps from the master's worktable. The Covington Quartet plays some sketches for string quartets left unfinished at Beethoven's death. They also perform some of Beethoven's contrapuntal studies, as well as other works transcribed for string quartet by Beethoven and others.

The "DCD Classical 'Cast" episode 78 samples selections from this album. Even though the works are short, they present a fascinating look into the creative process of one of the world's greatest composers.

- Ralph

This episode we play:

Beethoven: Minuet and Trio in A-flat major, Hess 33 & 88

Covington Quartet

Monument Records

Beethoven: Five four-part double fugues in double counterpoint, Hess 243, Nos. 1-3

Covington Quartet

Monument Records

Beethoven: Andante Favori, WoO 57, transcribed for string quartet, Hess A10

Covington Quartet

Monument Records

Beethoven: Two four-part triple fugues, Hess 244

Covington Quartet

Monument Records

DCD 077 - The Art of the Fugue -- from Sweden

"Die Kunst der Fuge" was Johann Sebastian Bach's compendium of his contrapuntal skill. The work starts with a very simple subject, and moves through an increasingly complex series canons and fugues.

Brengt Tibukait performs this amazing work on an instrument of the period, a 1728 Cahman organ in a new SACD release from Musica Rediviva. Episode #77 of the DCD Classical 'Cast features selections from this new release, including the first (and simplest) fugue, and the final (and most complex) fugue, left incomplete at Bach's death.

- Ralph

This episode we play:

Bach: Contapunctus I & II

Brengt Tribukait, organ

Musica Rediviva

Bach: Contrapunctus XII Recutus & inversus

Brengt Tribukait, organ

Musica Rediviva

Bach: Canon alla Decima in Contrapunto alla Terza

Brengt Tribukait, organ

Musica Rediviva