René de Boisdeffre - Piano Quintets

[tuatara442442]

https://acteprealable.com/catalogues/composers/ap0600/
Another release at the beginning of this year by Acte Prealable.
These two piano quintets by René de Boisdeffre, both in 4 movements, are different in instrumentation. The one with a standard string quartet is his Op. 11, and is larger, with a 17-minute first movement. The other one, Op. 25, has a double bass in place of a second violin like most early-day piano quintets, exemplified by Schubert's Trout.

[eschiss1]

They are in D minor and D major respectively, and their scores and parts are up at IMSLP (from initial material at Sibley Library Rochester). Glad to see they've been recorded; he wrote a fair amount of intriguing chamber music but I don't believe I've heard any yet.

[Mark Thomas]

Anyone who has already invested in Acte Prealable's praiseworthy exploration of de Boisdeffre's chamber music will be hoping for more of the same from these two Piano Quintets, and they won't be disappointed. Each work demonstrates its composer's strengths: masterful variation of instrumental colour, memorable thematic material and rhythmic diversity, all combined with a certain lightness of touch, a delicacy of sensibility, which is never trite or mimsy but avoids being over-earnest. His harmony is distinctly conventional for the second half of the 19th century, but I have no problem with that. This is thoroughly un-German music, which could easily have come from the pen of Saint-Saëns, although it perhaps lacks the sheer drive and imagination of the best of his compatriot's compositions. Lovely stuff, then, aiming to please rather than excite. The First Quintet is perhaps a tad overlong at 43 minutes (that long opening movement does overstay its welcome, attractive though it is) and the Second, darker in colouring with its double bass is, at 35 minutes, the stronger and more serious work, boasting a fine slow movement. The playing is committed and the recording excellent. Thoroughly recommended.    

[Wheesht]

is never trite or mimsy

Thanks for the heads up, Mark, but how did the borogoves get in there?

[Mark Thomas]

the borogoves

Always best to avoid them, Thomas!