QUINTETS FOR STRINGS AND PIANOFORTE
Played by THE INTERNATIONAL STRING QUARTET: ANDRE MANGEOT (Violin) ; WALTER PRICE (Violin) ; ERIC BRAY (Viola); JACK
SHINBBOURNE (Violoncello) and YVONNE ARNAUD
THIS quintet is one of the noblest and most poetic of Cesar Franck 's Chamber Music works. It begins with a slow section in which a strong, impressive theme on the strings is answered by a quiet melody on the pianoforte. The second theme, appearing first on the Viola and taken up i n turn by the others, is of smooth-flowing character in strong contrast to the first. There is a third tune of great importance in the movement, a soaring melody which begins on the first violin. The movement closes, after a very energetic section, with an echo of the first tune of the quick movement.
Of the slow movement which follows, no more need be said than that it is full of the dreamy charm and poetry of which
César Franc was so eminently a master. The last movement is one of great energy. It works up to a mood of real excitement, but there is a quiet, meditative section in which the pianoforte has the chief say. Towards the end, the third groat tune from the first movement is heard again in slightly altered guise, but it gives way soon to the strenuous spirit in which the last movement begins, and in which it closes.