Artist: See Siang Wong, Gemeaux Quartett
Album: Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 – Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 (Chamber Music Versions)
Genre: Classical
Release Date: 2017
Audio Format:: FLAC (tracks) 24 bit, 96 kHz
Duration: 01:12:10
Total Tracks: 6
Total Size: 1,21 GB

Tracklist:

Frédéric Chopin (1810 – 1849)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11
1 I. Allegro maestoso 19:32
2 II. Romanze. Larghetto 09:22
3 III. Rondo. Vivace 10:43

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
4 I. Allegro moderato 17:46
5 II. Andante con moto 04:44
6 III. Rondo. Vivace 10:04

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Chopin and Beethoven: the piano concertos as chamber music. Since the invention of the piano by Bartolomeo Christofori, composers such as Mozart and Haydn have explored and cherished the new tones and dynamic possibilities that the instrument offers. At the beginning of the 19th century, the piano grew increasingly popular and more and more were built and sold. Publishing houses saw an opportunity: they began arranging numerous popular works for piano so amateur musicians could also play them at home. But there was another reason for adapting existing arrangements. Performances of symphonic works were less frequent than today because either suitable musicians or money was lacking. Artists were dependent on patrons; they couldn’t, or didn’t want to, stump up the money themselves. As a result, it was necessary to create smaller versions of large scores so that these works could still be played.

This is probably the case, for example, with Chopin’s piano concerto. Many sources claim that chamber music versions were clearly used for the concerto. Chopin himself wrote that he would often rehearse concertos with smaller chamber music versions, the exact number of musicians remaining open. On September 18, 1830, he wrote to his childhood friend Titus Wojciechowski: “Last Wednesday I rehearsed my concerto with the quartet. But I wasn’t totally happy with it. […] As to how it turns out with an orchestra, I’ll let you know next week because I’m going to hold a rehearsal on Wednesday. I’ll rehearse it again with the quartet tomorrow.” Some sources also mention an arrangement for a quintet. However, recent research has shown that the term “quartet” was used to refer not only to the traditional line-up of two violins, a viola and a cello, but also as a general term for smaller groups such as chamber orchestras or ensembles that could fit into a parlour.