Danzi Complete Wind Quintets
A delightful man who wrote delightful music: enjoy dipping into this selection
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Franz (Ignaz) Danzi
Genre:
Chamber
Label: BIS
Magazine Review Date: 1/2007
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 233
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: BIS-CD1581/2
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(3) Wind Quintets |
Franz (Ignaz) Danzi, Composer
Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet Franz (Ignaz) Danzi, Composer |
Quintet |
Franz (Ignaz) Danzi, Composer
Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet Franz (Ignaz) Danzi, Composer Love Derwinger, Piano |
Wind Quintets |
Franz (Ignaz) Danzi, Composer
Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet Franz (Ignaz) Danzi, Composer |
Wind Quintet |
Franz (Ignaz) Danzi, Composer
Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet Franz (Ignaz) Danzi, Composer |
Author: John Warrack
No one in his senses would settle down to listen to nine wind quintets plus three piano and wind quintets by Franz Danzi wall to wall, but as a pick-and-mix record this is remarkably agreeable relaxation and the players clearly enjoy themselves.
Danzi was a delightful man, who wrote delightful music. He was well liked by his contemporaries (he lived from 1763 to 1826), and well respected as a musician of quality. Here he was simply out to provide diversion, with works cast in a regular pattern of sonata-form first movement, gentle, songlike slow movement, minuet, and rondo finale (often Allegretto). But they are carefully crafted works, with instrumental sounds and combinations cleverly chosen to express the nature of the musical material. For instance, in Op 56 the contrast between the fresh Andante of No 1 and the more serious and darker-hued Andante of No 2 is subtly marked. The minuets can be a little plain – Danzi is no Haydn – but sometimes, as with that of Op 56 No 2, he can virtually break into a waltz.
For the finale of Op 68 No 1 he sets off with a spirited polacca, favourite dance of the early Romantics, and this occurs again in the finale of the Op 53 Piano Quintet. On the whole, the Piano Quintets have greater musical substance, and they are taken seriously by Love Derwinger. He brings a proper concentration of emotion to the first movements, and rattles off the Allegro brillante finale of Op 54 with splendid élan.
Danzi is a composer with more to him than is usually recognised. His operas held the stage in their day, and one, at least, Die Mitternachtstunde, though it has rather a silly plot, is filled with witty invention and some highly original harmonic exploration. It would be well worth seeking out by an enterprising record company.
Danzi was a delightful man, who wrote delightful music. He was well liked by his contemporaries (he lived from 1763 to 1826), and well respected as a musician of quality. Here he was simply out to provide diversion, with works cast in a regular pattern of sonata-form first movement, gentle, songlike slow movement, minuet, and rondo finale (often Allegretto). But they are carefully crafted works, with instrumental sounds and combinations cleverly chosen to express the nature of the musical material. For instance, in Op 56 the contrast between the fresh Andante of No 1 and the more serious and darker-hued Andante of No 2 is subtly marked. The minuets can be a little plain – Danzi is no Haydn – but sometimes, as with that of Op 56 No 2, he can virtually break into a waltz.
For the finale of Op 68 No 1 he sets off with a spirited polacca, favourite dance of the early Romantics, and this occurs again in the finale of the Op 53 Piano Quintet. On the whole, the Piano Quintets have greater musical substance, and they are taken seriously by Love Derwinger. He brings a proper concentration of emotion to the first movements, and rattles off the Allegro brillante finale of Op 54 with splendid élan.
Danzi is a composer with more to him than is usually recognised. His operas held the stage in their day, and one, at least, Die Mitternachtstunde, though it has rather a silly plot, is filled with witty invention and some highly original harmonic exploration. It would be well worth seeking out by an enterprising record company.
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