Dirk Schäfer - Piano Quintet Op. 5

- Composer: Dirk Schäfer (25 November 1873 -- 16 February 1931)
- Performers: Jacob Bogaart (piano) & Orpheus String Quartet
- Year of recording: 1992

Quintet for 2 violins, viola, cello & piano, Op. 5, written in 1901.

00:00 - I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso
15:29 - II. Adagio patetico
24:29 - III. Allegro vivo e scherzando
30:42 - IV. Finale - allegro non troppo e molto maestoso

The piano quintet by Dutch composer-pianist Schäfer, with its startling opening and virtuoso treatment of the instruments, has much in common with the quintets of Schumann and Brahms [both uploaded on this channel]. The town-musician-like character of the first movement and the pizzicato passages in the scherzando call Dvorak's 2nd piano quintet to mind. With the sweeping melody in the adagio, Schäfer engraves his personal mark on the memory. Although his style may be somewhat eclectic, Schäfer's music has a clarity and lightness that sets it apart, distinguishing it particularly from the weightier Brahms style.

The quintet was premiered in 1904 at a music festival in Frankfurt, but despite the wildly enthusiastic reception it met with on this occasion, three-quarters of a century were to pass before it was to be performed with any regularity.

Schäfer wrote two years before his death: "All of my works seem to be almost entirely neglected. As far as the clavier compositions are concerned, the performance of these is left entirely to myself; but I dislike making propaganda for my creations. I much prefer this done through the WORK itself, rather than by me."

The Piano Quintet is dedicated to: "Herrn Dr. Baron van Zuylen van Nijevelt".