Prinz Louis Ferdinand - Piano Quartet No. 1, Op. 5 (c. 1805)

Prince Frederick Louis Christian "Ferdinand" of Prussia (German: Friedrich Ludwig Christian; 18 November 1772 – 10 October 1806), was a Prussian prince, soldier, composer and pianist. Prince Louis Ferdinand fought in the Napoleonic Wars.

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Piano Quartet No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 5 (c. 1805, publ. 1807)
Dedication: Ihrer Königlichen Hoheit der Frau Prinzessin Ferdinand von Preussen (His mother)

I. Allegro espressivo (0:00)
II. Adagio espressivo (10:54)
III. Tempo di Minuetto ma moderato (17:50)
IV. Rondo. Tempo moderato (23:28)

Horst Göbel, piano and the Joachim Quartett.

The First Piano Quartet, published during the prince's lifetime, was completed around 1804. The piano, as one might expect from a virtuoso pianist, has a brilliant part, much the sort that Mendelssohn wrote for himself in his piano quartets. The opening movement, Allegro espressivo, is classical in structure. Two themes are presented and the development of each is given extensive treatment. The highly romantic Adagio which follows begins mildly but becomes tinged with gloom as the movement progresses. The main theme of the Tempo di menuetto, which serves as the third movement, has echoes of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, while the mood anticipates that of a Schubert scherzo. The finale is a large scale Rondo, moderato.

Apart from being a soldier, Louis Ferdinand was also a gifted musician and composer. Johann Friedrich Reichardt, Kapellmeister to Frederick II and Frederick William II, considered him a great pianist. Early on Louis Ferdinand also started to compose music, but he was not recognized for his compositional activities until later. His early pieces were performed by the orchestra of Prince Henry, the brother of Fredrick the Great. Later on, Prince Louis Ferdinand joined several salons in Berlin, where he frequently improvised on the piano. Among his circle of acquaintances were figures such as Schlegel, Wackenroder, and Tieck, all of whom were highly interested in music as well. Ludwig van Beethoven dedicated his Third Piano Concerto to him, a sign of high esteem for his piano playing. Anton Reicha's massive variation cycle, L'art de varier, was also written for Louis Ferdinand.

In 1842, Franz Liszt wrote an Élégie sur des motifs du Prince Louis Ferdinand de Prusse, S. 168, for piano solo.