Schumann: Piano Quintet op.44 | Brahms/Tsachor: Transcriptions For Piano Solo
The Schumann Piano Quintet op. 44 was composed in 1842, a year that was later nicknamed Schumann's «chamber music year» since during that year he also composed the Piano Quartet op. 47 and the three String Quartets op. 41. The Brahms circle of friends included many figures, some of whom were famous, like Robert and Clara Schumann, Joseph Joachim, Max Bruch and others less so like Theodor Kirchner, Heinrich and Elisabeth von Herzogenberg and Albert Dietrich. The musical interrelationships among them were quite complex because they were in the habit of consulting each other about their compositions. Often, they would use some of their friends' musical ideas as a basis for their own works. As most of them were either accomplished pianists or at least played the instrument to a certain extent, it is not surprising that a large portion of this group's creative efforts was comprised of either original piano pieces or piano transcriptions of other idioms, a favorite practice which better enabled them to master their colleagues' work.
Brahms' solo piano transcription of the Schumann Piano Quintet op. 44 is part of the tribute and is the only existing arrangement by Brahms of a Schumann piece. It was given to Clara Schumann on her 35th birthday, September 13, 1854.
Uriel Tsachor created his own version of the other movements which is also presented as world premiere recording on this CD.