Liner Notes
Cat. No. NWCRL242
Release Date: 2010-02-01
Patricia Brooks, soprano; Betty Allen, mezzo-soprano; The Iowa String Quartet: Allen Ohmes, violin; John Ferrell, violin; William Preucil, viola; Charles Wendt, cello
Karl Weigl was born toward the end of the century in Vienna, remaining there during the long afternoon of that city's glory, and into its agony at the start of World War II. He studied piano and composition at the Vienna Academy and privately with Alexander V. Zemlinsky, and after receiving his doctorate at the University of Vienna in 1904, was appointed to an enviable position as Mahler's assistant coach at the Vienna Imperial Opera. It was Mahler himself who believed in the young man's music and was instrumental in getting some of his early compositions performed. Weigl had already written a large number of works, including the first of his six symphonies, when he won the coveted “Beethoven Prize” from the Society of Friends of Music for the third of his eight string quartets. Later he also was awarded the “Prize of the City of Vienna” for his symphonic cantata, “World Festival.”
The String Quartet No. 5 in G major, Op. 31, which had the sub-title “In Light Mood,” is marked by a lyrical flow and melodious invention which can be most satisfying. This differentiates it somewhat from some of his later chamber music or orchestra works which tend to be more serious, at times even portentous in tone and mood. After first hearing this quartet in 1968 Winthrop Sargeant wrote in The New Yorker, “The Weigl Quartet was a delight, written by a supreme craftsman . . . My conclusion is that he was a figure of major importance.” After its first performance by the Busch Quartet in Vienna in 1934 it was described as “masterly in form and technique, beautiful in harmony and one of the composer's most mature works . . . a true affirmation of life.” It is in four movements, with the traditional scherzo and larghetto separating the more rigorously formed corner movements.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Karl Weigl was born toward the end of the century in Vienna, remaining there during the long afternoon of that city's glory, and into its agony at the start of World War II. He studied piano and composition at the Vienna Academy and privately with Alexander V. Zemlinsky, and after receiving his doctorate at the University of Vienna in 1904, was appointed to an enviable position as Mahler's assistant coach at the Vienna Imperial Opera. It was Mahler himself who believed in the young man's music and was instrumental in getting some of his early compositions performed. Weigl had already written a large number of works, including the first of his six symphonies, when he won the coveted “Beethoven Prize” from the Society of Friends of Music for the third of his eight string quartets. Later he also was awarded the “Prize of the City of Vienna” for his symphonic cantata, “World Festival.”
The String Quartet No. 5 in G major, Op. 31, which had the sub-title “In Light Mood,” is marked by a lyrical flow and melodious invention which can be most satisfying. This differentiates it somewhat from some of his later chamber music or orchestra works which tend to be more serious, at times even portentous in tone and mood. After first hearing this quartet in 1968 Winthrop Sargeant wrote in The New Yorker, “The Weigl Quartet was a delight, written by a supreme craftsman . . . My conclusion is that he was a figure of major importance.” After its first performance by the Busch Quartet in Vienna in 1934 it was described as “masterly in form and technique, beautiful in harmony and one of the composer's most mature works . . . a true affirmation of life.” It is in four movements, with the traditional scherzo and larghetto separating the more rigorously formed corner movements.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Music of Karl Weigl
| MP3/320 | $7.99 | |
| FLAC | $7.99 | |
| WAV | $7.99 | |
| CD-R | $7.99 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Five Songs for Soprano and String Quartet, Op. 44: I. Trost
Karl Weigl
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Five Songs for Soprano and String Quartet, Op. 44: II. Sommernachmittag
Karl Weigl
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Five Songs for Soprano and String Quartet, Op. 44: III. Regenlied
Karl Weigl
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Five Songs for Soprano and String Quartet, Op. 44: IV. Ave Maria
Karl Weigl
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Five Songs for Soprano and String Quartet, Op. 44: V. Einladung zur Martinsgans
Karl Weigl
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Three Songs for Alto and String Quartet: I. Sommers Tod
Karl Weigl
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Three Songs for Alto and String Quartet: II. Liebesode
Karl Weigl
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Three Songs for Alto and String Quartet: III. Hexenlied
Karl Weigl
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String Quartet No. 5 in G, Op. 31: I. Sehr ruhig
Karl Weigl
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String Quartet No. 5 in G, Op. 31: II. Allegro molto
Karl Weigl
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String Quartet No. 5 in G, Op. 31: III. Larghetto
Karl Weigl
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String Quartet No. 5 in G, Op. 31: IV. Allegro comodo
Karl Weigl
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