Quintet in F minor, Op. 34 for piano and strings played by The Griller String Quartet:
Sidney Griller (violin) Jack O'Brien (violin) Philip Burton (viola) Colin Hampton (cello) Myra Hess (piano)
Brahms' Piano Quintet, which Dame Myra Hess and the Griller String Quartet performed last night at the Edinburgh Festival, exists in three forms. Originally written as a string quintet with two cellos, it was adversely criticised by Joachim, and Brahms destroyed this version; the recent reconstruction of this form of the work by Sebastian Brown is sometimes performed. Brahms next arranged it for two pianot, and this version will be heard in the Third Programme on Friday. Finally, at Clara Schumann's suggestion, he redesigned the work as a piano quintet.
Deryck Cooke