Presents
Caspar Joseph Brambach
Sextet in c minor, Op.5
For Piano, 2 Violins, 2 Violas & Cello
Caspar Joseph Brambach (1833-1902), also known as Carl Joseph Brambach, was born in in the German village of Oberdollendorf directly across the Rhine river from the city of Bonn. His early music lessons were from his father. At age 15, he began formal studies on the violin as an external student at the Cologne Conservatory while at the same time working as the concertmaster of the Bonn Opera House Orchestra. When he turned 18, he was admitted to the Cologne Conservatory as a regular student. There, he won several awards for his chamber music and songs. After graduating, he continued his studies privately with Ferdinand Hiller and Carl Reinecke before he himself became a teacher. In 1861, he obtained the position of Municipal Music Director of the City of Bonn. His chamber music and his songs received great attention and praise and were widely performed throughout Germany. The style of his instrumental works can be described as Post-Mendelsohnian with a rich, lyrical, cantabile, singing style.
His Piano Sextet in c minor dates from 1861 at the time he was appointed Music Director in Bonn and was dedicated to Carl Reinecke, his famous teacher, who no doubt wrote a letter of recommendation to help him obtain the position. In four movements, it opens with a turbulent, hard-driving Allegro appassionato. It is followed by a lighter Allegro energico which takes the place of a scherzo. Third is a beautiful Mendelssohnian Andante, a song without words. The Sextet closes with an exciting Allegro vivace.
This is a fine work deserving concert performance by a composer whose works have been unjustly ignored. Another fine work for this exact combination which we publish is Joaquin Turina's Scéne Andalouse
Parts: $44.95
