In recent years I have grown to love the rich and varied music written by Brahms for small ensembles. All of it is so well structured and proportioned and the wealth of ideas boggles my mind. Brahms had this ability to write well for pretty much any instrument and I will tell you that I wish he had tossed off a sonata or concert piece for my instrument, the trumpet. Alas....Two wonderful pieces featured today. First up, an early Mercury, MG10011, of the Brahms First Piano Quartet played by Mieczyslaw Horszowski, Alexander Schneider, Milton Katims and Frank Miller. I cut to chase - this is exquisitely rendered. Horszowski was superb in small ensemble settings and Alexander Schneider was simply the best violinist out there for any and all chamber music. Not to forget the terrific Milton Katims on viola and Frank Miller on cello - these guys play together so instinctively and correctly and they set a benchmark of which I have no doubt. This late 40's effort has stood the test of time and its well worth any serious listener's attention. Students should be required to listen, absorb and describe what these artists do for Brahms.
As a filler, I came across the Horn Trio Op 40 performed by Emil Gilels, Leonid Kogan and hornist Yakov Shapiro. I was most curious when I found this for the fact that Russian horns and trombones of the period tended to be small bore instruments and the sounds are often quite startling to the ears, especially if we know pieces from a western performing perspective. On top of the instrument configuration, Russians brass players tended to play with a heavy and pronounced vibrato. Needless to say, these instruments and the style has all but disappeared as today's instrumentalists, more or less play in a western, and American influenced, style. All that aside, this horn trio is quite fascinating to hear as the horn sounds like some sort of a hybrid instrument, almost alto hornish at times, though it is well played by Shapiro. As to be expected, Gilels and Kogan are their typical formidable selves and they are keenly in tune to what Brahms is all about. Quite wonderful listening though that horn takes some adjusting to the ears. Of the recording date, maybe early 50's...who's to say? The flip side featured Gilels in scratchy Scarlatti sonatas, I think a very odd, odd disc partner!
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