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| Komponist og organist Peter Heise (1830-1879), gravminde, Holmens Kirkegård, København (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Performed by the Kontra Quartet with Amalie Malling.
I. Lento A Piacere - Allegro Energico - 00:00
II. Larghetto - 9:14
III. Intermezzo Vivace - Ma Non Troppo Presto - 16:03
IV. Finale - Lento Con Esspresione - Allegro Molto - 19:04
Peter Heise (1830-1879) was born in Copenhagen where he studied locally before attending the Leipzig Conservatory. Heise was of the generation for whom Mendelssohn and Schumann were the guiding lights. He was also influenced by his fellow countryman, Niels Gade. He did not find Wagner and the tonal ideas of the New German School to his taste. Upon his return to Copenhagen, he made a name for himself as a song writer although he composed in most genres. His opera Drot og Marsk (King & Marshall) was widely regarded the finest Danish opera of the 19th century. Although his instrumental works are almost uniformly excellent, because of the tremendous popularity of his songs, they were overlooked. Among his chamber music works are 6 string quartets, a piano trio, this piano quintet, and a number of instrumental sonatas.
After hearing Brahms' Piano Quintet, which he did not find to his taste, Heise decided that he could write a piano quintet which was just as good or better. Whether he did this is a matter of personal opinion but there is no denying that this piano quintet, which dates from 1869, is a superb work which did not deserve to lie in oblivion for 140 years. The opening movement, Lento a piacere-Allegro energico, after a brief slow, formal introduction, which ends with a piano flourish, literally takes off in a burst of energy. The lovely theme is full of optimism and good spirits. This is follows by an attractive and lyrical second section, which in turn is followed by an appealing third section. The music is simply brimming with ideas. The lovely second movement, Larghetto, has an undeniable vocal quality. The strings alone introduce the finely wrought main theme which is of a highly romantic nature. The piano enters bring a heightened sense of drama. A lively scherzo, Intermezzo, vivace ma non troppo presto, follows. The music has an airy Italian quality to it. The finale, Lento con expressione-Allegro molto, begins with a slow, mildly sad introduction. The main part of the movement bustles forward and is in the grand manner.
