Composer

:

Jean Sibelius

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1884

Average_duration

:

32:57

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Jean Sibelius composed his Piano Quartet in D minor, JS 157, in 1885-86, when he was just 21 years old. The work premiered in Helsinki in 1890, with Sibelius himself playing the piano part. The quartet is in four movements and has a total duration of approximately 35 minutes. The first movement, marked Allegro ma non tanto, begins with a dramatic and intense piano introduction, followed by the entrance of the strings. The movement is characterized by its use of rich harmonies and sweeping melodies, as well as sudden shifts in dynamics and tempo. The development section features a virtuosic piano cadenza, and the movement ends with a powerful coda. The second movement, marked Vivace, is a lively scherzo in D major. The piano and strings engage in playful dialogue, with the piano often taking on a percussive role. The trio section features a lyrical melody in the cello, accompanied by pizzicato strings. The third movement, marked Adagio, is the emotional heart of the quartet. It begins with a hauntingly beautiful melody in the cello, accompanied by the piano. The strings gradually join in, and the music builds to a powerful climax before subsiding into a quiet and introspective coda. The final movement, marked Allegro, is a lively and energetic rondo. The piano and strings engage in a lively dance, with the piano often taking on a virtuosic role. The movement features several contrasting sections, including a lyrical episode in the middle. The quartet ends with a triumphant coda. Overall, Sibelius's Piano Quartet in D minor is a powerful and emotionally charged work, showcasing the composer's early mastery of form and harmony. The quartet is notable for its use of rich harmonies, sweeping melodies, and sudden shifts in dynamics and tempo. It remains a popular work in the chamber music repertoire.

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