Nice late Classical work with hints of early Romanticism. Never knew about this Prince, much less that he wrote music. Seems this quartet was published the year he died...shame he was killed in battle, would've written a lot more musical gems for sure.
Chopin also could have been killed. He wanted to battle agains Russians. But his friends insisted on him to leave the Country and support the revolution by his Art.
Lebhafte und wunderschöne Interpretation dieses romantischen und fein komponierten Quartetts in verschiedenen Tempi mit klarem doch warmherzigem Klang des genialen Fortepianos und seidigen doch gut phrasierten Tönen dreier ebenso genialen Streichinstrumente. Der dritte Satz klingt besonders schön und echt bezaubernd. Im Kontrast klingt der letzte Satz echt lebhaft und auch überzeugend. Einfach wunderbar!
I think I have heard most of the chamber music of the Prince, and this piano quartet is the most accomplished IMO, or at least my favorite. Definitely needs to be in the standard repertory.
Consider that Haydn still lived this time (1806) but wrote nothing, except maybe the 2. and 3. movements of his very last String Quartet (Op 103. d-moll). This Piano Quartet is from another world: Beethoven composed his 4th Symphony and his 4th Piano Concerto this year. Sublime music.
Beethoven dedicated his 3rd Piano Concerto to him, that by itself says a LOT. The fact the Prince loved to improvise must have made a good impression on Beethoven as well, as that was one of his own favorite pastimes. In the few (little) biographies I found on-line it is often stated that he was influenced by Beethoven in his compositions, but as you also noted it could have been very well the opposite. The Prinz was not depended on anybody for income and pretty much could write anything he wanted. He must have been quite the free spirit when it comes to music. Something Beethoven must have admired. The Prinz might have been an influencer! I am making assumptions now, but think am not too far off.
Fun fact I just discovered: Prinz Louis Ferdinand was a brother of Princesse Louise. This princess was to become the wife of Antoni Radziwiłł, who later hosted Chopin several times in his country house in the 1820s. Chopin himself liked Prinz Louis Ferdinand’s Quartett a lot in his youth (probably this one, or perhaps the Op.5 one).
Wow I'm quiet amazed by this ....clearly has Beethovenian influences (was he a student ?) but also sounds like early Schumann ......really tasteful.....nice to have a pleasant surprise now and then.
The ending to the quartet is not only tragic, but strange and anticlimactic as well. Could Prince Louis have been writing his own death in battle in music in case he should fall in the battle he almost knew was coming for him when he composed the final pages? It’s strange to think what artists know or believe about their own fates.
I was surprised to read that the Prince volunteered to go to war with Napoleon, fully knowing that this could end badly for him. In those days commanders were as much or even more in danger than their soldiers.
Surprisingly good music, certainly on the same level as professionals like f.i. Hummel or Spohr. Writing for this combination of instruments is difficult.
one of the best pieces of music I have heard!
Nice late Classical work with hints of early Romanticism. Never knew about this Prince, much less that he wrote music. Seems this quartet was published the year he died...shame he was killed in battle, would've written a lot more musical gems for sure.
Chopin also could have been killed. He wanted to battle agains Russians. But his friends insisted on him to leave the Country and support the revolution by his Art.
Indeed, there are hints of early romanticism even from the get-go... For example, the dusky figure at bar 0:25. Very cool piece!
Meraviglioso! Non conoscevo proprio questo compositore che è stato anche un principe e generale prussiano
Lebhafte und wunderschöne Interpretation dieses romantischen und fein komponierten Quartetts in verschiedenen Tempi mit klarem doch warmherzigem Klang des genialen Fortepianos und seidigen doch gut phrasierten Tönen dreier ebenso genialen Streichinstrumente. Der dritte Satz klingt besonders schön und echt bezaubernd. Im Kontrast klingt der letzte Satz echt lebhaft und auch überzeugend. Einfach wunderbar!
Thanks so much for this video. I never knew about this Prince. Wonderful music, on par with professional composers!
Bravo bravo bravo bravo
I think I have heard most of the chamber music of the Prince, and this piano quartet is the most accomplished IMO, or at least my favorite. Definitely needs to be in the standard repertory.
Consider that Haydn still lived this time (1806) but wrote nothing, except maybe the 2. and 3. movements of his very last String Quartet (Op 103. d-moll). This Piano Quartet is from another world: Beethoven composed his 4th Symphony and his 4th Piano Concerto this year. Sublime music.
Beethoven dedicated his 3rd Piano Concerto to him, that by itself says a LOT. The fact the Prince loved to improvise must have made a good impression on Beethoven as well, as that was one of his own favorite pastimes. In the few (little) biographies I found on-line it is often stated that he was influenced by Beethoven in his compositions, but as you also noted it could have been very well the opposite. The Prinz was not depended on anybody for income and pretty much could write anything he wanted. He must have been quite the free spirit when it comes to music. Something Beethoven must have admired. The Prinz might have been an influencer! I am making assumptions now, but think am not too far off.
@@bartjebartmans Thank you for your valuable assumptions. I've came to similar assumptions too.
The finale’s use of unusual phrase lengths almost mirrors Beethoven’s. Really fascinating.
Fun fact I just discovered: Prinz Louis Ferdinand was a brother of Princesse Louise. This princess was to become the wife of Antoni Radziwiłł, who later hosted Chopin several times in his country house in the 1820s.
Chopin himself liked Prinz Louis Ferdinand’s Quartett a lot in his youth (probably this one, or perhaps the Op.5 one).
Wow I'm quiet amazed by this ....clearly has Beethovenian influences (was he a student ?) but also sounds like early Schumann ......really tasteful.....nice to have a pleasant surprise now and then.
The ending to the quartet is not only tragic, but strange and anticlimactic as well. Could Prince Louis have been writing his own death in battle in music in case he should fall in the battle he almost knew was coming for him when he composed the final pages? It’s strange to think what artists know or believe about their own fates.
I was surprised to read that the Prince volunteered to go to war with Napoleon, fully knowing that this could end badly for him. In those days commanders were as much or even more in danger than their soldiers.
One of the greatest early-death losses for music, dare I say.
Surprisingly good music, certainly on the same level as professionals like f.i. Hummel or Spohr. Writing for this combination of instruments is difficult.