Music Monday: Hans Pfitzner - Piano Trio Op. 8

Here is another composer that not many people have heard today. Among his students were Sem Dresden, Ture Rangström, Otto Klemperer, W. H. Hewlett, Heinrich Jacoby, Czesław Marek, Charles Münch, Felix Wolfes, Carl Orff and Heinrich Sutermeister. 

This piece is performed by the Robert Schumann Trio, who no website that I can find. Members of the group are Jozef De Beenhouwer, Kees Hülsmann and Marien Van Staalen.

Tracks included in this performance are:

I. Kraftig Und Feurig - Nicht Zu Schnell - 8:04
II. Langsam - Nicht Schleppen - 13:41
III. Massig Schnell - Etwas Frei Im Votrag - 6:05
IV. Rasch Und Wild - 16:29

Hans Pfitzner (1869--1949) was born in Moscow of German parents. His father was a professional violinist and he received violin lessons from his father. Later he studied piano and composition at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. He enjoyed a long career as a conductor and teacher. His music was held in high regard by contemporaries such as Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler. Pfitzner was an avowed opponent of the Second Vienna School with its serialism and atonal music. Instead, he sought new paths for traditional tonality. He composed in nearly every genre and is best known for his operas. He did not ignore chamber music, writing a number of string quartets, a piano trio and a piano quintet.


For more information on the composer:

Wikipedia


Discography at AllMusic