Louise Farrenc- Sextet for Piano and Winds, op.40

 

Louise Farrenc

 

 

 

 Louise Farrenc (31 May 1804 – 15 September 1875) was a French composer,   virtuosa 

 pianist and teacher. Born Jeanne-Louise Dumont in Paris, she was the daughter of

Jacques-Edme Dumont, a successful sculptor, and sister to Auguste Dumont

 

 

Sextet for Piano and Winds, op.40 (1852)

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I. Allegro
II. Andante sostenuto
III. Allegro vivace

 

While Farrenc’s Sextet is modeled on Mozart’s Quintet in E flat (performed in the second half of tonight’s concert) it breaks new ground in that it is the first known work for wind quintet and piano. The work remains in safe harmonic territory, but is self-assured and resolute, skillfully orchestrated and melodically fluent.