George Stratton (violin); Watson Forbes (viola); John Moore (violoncello) ; Reginald Paul (pianoforte)
Schumann's Piano Quartet in E flat was composed in 1843, the same year in which the Piano Quintet appeared. Richard Aldrich points out that this genial and romantic work ' owes its inspiration to the same impulse that urged Schumann to the Quintet; the method is the same, the technique shows the same manner of approach as well as the same masterly skill ; the cast of thought is similar ... But it deals, on the whole, with a slighter order of ideas ; the flight of its inspiration is not on the whole, quite so bold or so high. It insinuates its way into the affections of the music lover rather than imposes itself with the irresistible sweep and energy of the quintet.'
Arnold Foster, one of the younger British composers, is a Yorkshireman. He studied composition at the Royal College of Music with Vaughan Williams. His works include ' Pianoforte Concerto on Country Dance Tunes ' (which has been broadcast on several occasions), ' Autumn Idyll' for small orchestra, ' Suite for Strings on English Folk Airs', two volumes of Manx Folk Songs and various arrangements of English and Manx Folk Songs for unaccompanied chorus. Mr. Foster has also made a great many arrangements of folk dance tunes for The English Folk Dance Society. He succeeded Gustav Hoist as Musical Director of Morley College, and is a well-known choral conductor and a music master at Westminster School.
Bliss's Piano Quartet in A minor is, as its opus number would imply, an early work. It was first performed while Bliss was on active service during the war.