Ferdinand Ries - Piano Quintet In B Minor Op.74

 

Ferdinand Ries

(28 November 1784 [baptised] – 13 January 1838)

was a German composer. Ries was a friend, pupil and secretary of Ludwig van Beethoven.

 

Piano Quintet In B Minor Op.74

Piano Quintet in b minor, Op. 74. London, 1817
Dedication: Erzherzog Rudolph (1788-1831)

 

01 - Grave
02 - Larghetto
03 - Rondo (Allegro)

 

Ensemble Concertante Frankfurt

Ries performed and published the Quintet himself while he was living in London during 1817. The first movement opens with a long, slow, ominous introduction, Grave which then leads to an exciting Allegro con brio. The second movement, Larghetto, opens with a beautiful cello solo. The piano follows up and other instruments are given cadenza like passages. The brilliant and dramatic finale, Rondo, begins without a pause from the Larghetto.