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What is the greatest piano quintet?

What is the greatest piano quintet?

43K views 119 replies 78 participants last post by  Roger Knox 
#1 ·
Vote on the greatest/your favorite composition for piano & four strings.
 
#7 · (Edited)
What a nasty comment. Why not stay out of "junior corner" if it gets your old lady panties in a twist. Yes I am new here; thanks for the warm welcome.

And Andre:

"Yes, it's getting a bit tired. Why not just have a general thread about the topic, rather than yet another poll, which doesn't really achieve anything imo..."

This is a thread, no?

I can see I've already overstayed my welcome on these boards. I'll not be back.
 
#4 ·
I think Martinu 2nd deserves a places on that list as its the equal if not superior of the shostakovich and frank at least - every movement is glorious - with the cheery lifelfulness and the open air radiance of dvorak at his best. Its certainly my favourite apart from brahms (which i think is the one which says the most without fading)
 
#10 ·
My favourite is the Schumann. I think polls achieve a lot. You get a nice overall image of the most popular piece from the pieces on offer to choose from.

Come back TSHare!

Plus, if you don't like a thread, why post in it? You're only making that thread more popular. If you ignore a thread you don't like it will eventually recede into Davy Jones' Locker.
 
#12 ·
Agree with Andre's comment above.

Piano quintets often are mini-piano concertos. Lovely genre, as is the piano quartet and the piano trio.
 
#14 ·
I think it is good to have a discussion - a poll simply gets the conversation going especially when some good ones gets missed off such as the MARTINU 2ND and the conversation gets going from there - whats stopping people from simply joining in the conversation?
 
#38 · (Edited)
Why not just start a conversation on the repertoire for this genre, then? I've lately given up on any joy in the polls, because if they are not exactly a 'junior corner,' they are invariably a somewhat empirical repeated list of THE USUAL SUSPECTS, and that is not really informative nor a great dialogue starter, imo.

There are many very fine works absent from 'the list,' [The Morton Feldman Piano and String Quartet, for one] as always in each OP poll list... a "trickle effect" of additions here and there through a thread does not add up to a readily readable, or informative, list.
 
#16 ·
I likes early Webern's piano quintet. One of good points to start with his music before diving into later stuff. One movement-work, about eleven minutes long in performance. Highly recommended by board chief crocodiles from the forest.

I already mentioned Zarebski's Piano Quintet in other threads, it kicks all those famous quintets mentioned in this poll asses, it eats them for breakfast and isn't even fed at all.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Most listened to over the years have probably been the Schubert, Brahms, Schumann, Franck and Shostakovich quintets. Brahms in particular is a mood piece - is one in the mood for it or not, since the ongoings can be a bit heavy. Haven´t heard the Schmitt yet, even though I own it. Was initially startled by Gubaidulina´s some time ago, but now I find it much less interesting. The Faures have also caught my attention less than his piano quartets, but perhaps more appreciation will come. Recently esteemed ones are especially Rochberg´s (but perhaps it can be critisized as being too effectful), also Kokkonen´s, Martucci´s and Wuorinen´s.
But will vote for "other", meaning probably Schnittke, Rochberg, or at least a more contemporary one.
 
#20 ·
Didn´t know that Martucci´s trios were even in existence, thanks. Do you happen to know J.B. Foersters trios ? Nice, if not very substantial works - the music of Foerster is awaiting more recordings and there might be a "hidden" piano quintet there as well, likewise by Ostrcil or Moyzes ... Not to speak of Sorabjis two quintets, would be interesting to hear them, at least no.1 has been performed in 2003 ...
Some rather rare Danish piano quintets have also been recorded, by Heise, Hamerik and Koppel especially, but to me they don´t seem to be that important, though.
A bit strange that Bartok´s early piano quintet is so rarely recorded ...
 
#21 · (Edited)
I too find the Shostakovich, Piano Quintet, a energetic, vital work. Had the opportunity to hear it last month at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont, USA (www.marlboromusic.org), with a group of young, extremely talented musicians. Pallavi Mahidhara,pianist (a student of Ignat Solzhenitsyn, at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia); Liana Gourdjia, violin (Russian); Arnold Steinhardt, violin (1st violin of the Guarneri Quartet); Luke Fleming, viola; and Andrew Janss, cello. Also heard it rehearsed several times. That's the fun, listening to the rehearsals, before it is played in concert.
 
#22 ·
I know the name (J.B. Foerster) but not the music. I think that there was once a CD of the trios available in America, but I don`t know if it still is. I think that I will see if there is a "download" since I would like to hear the music. As to the other Composers, these are new names to me,
 
#25 ·
Wouldn't it be much more interesting to hear arguments for our choice in stead of opinions? I voted without hesitation for Dvorak op.81 because it is the best piano quintet ever written from a viewpoint of instrumentation and balance between the instruments. Yes, it is rich in melodies indeed, but you can hear them all and everywhere. There is no powerplay required, all five parts are lively, full of inspiration and in permanent dialogue which the others and the audience. Unlike Brahms, who struggled with this, and many other quintets which from time to time have the character of a dialogue/struggle between piano and string quartet. Yes: Martin, Elgar as well as Shos have this transparency too form time to time, but are lacking the variation and richness of inspiration which shows Dvorak.
 
#28 · (Edited)
The Foerster's works are very charming - trios are good, although I tend to stick to the string quartets (Thanks to the wonderful Stamitz Quartet for reviving these!).

The Julius Zarebski and Fauré quintets are probably my favourite. The Taneyev one used to be ... but it's the Zarebski one. There seems to be a re-awakening to his works (finally!). So many new recordings:

The brilliant Lason family:



The well-reviewed Royal String Quartet (but not my faves):



The interesting Szymanowski String Quartet:



of the reissues - the most famous version (I got the Olympia original yay!!!)"



and the brilliant but hard to find Pavane Records release by the amazing Varsovia Quartet.

(note the piano is just a filler for these superb string quartet led piano quintets :)

This thread covered Zarebski too :)

http://www.talkclassical.com/6497-juliusz-zar-bski.html
 
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