Franz Schubert String Quartet No. 14, D. 810 Death and the Maiden, String Trio, D. 581 & Wind Nonet, D. 79 Eine kleine Trauermusik Prazak Quartet, Kocian Quartet, Czech Nonet

• Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): String Trio in B-Flat Major, D. 591:
• 1 Schubert: String Trio in B-Flat Major, D. 591: I. Allegro moderato 05:23
• 2 Schubert: String Trio in B-Flat Major, D. 591: II. Andante 05:28
• 3 Schubert: String Trio in B-Flat Major, D. 591: III. Menuetto (allegretto) 04:09
• 4 Schubert: String Trio in B-Flat Major, D. 591: IV. Rondo (allegretto) 05:57
• Wind Nonet in E-Flat Minor, D. 79 "Eine kleine Trauermusik":
• 5 Schubert: Wind Nonet in E-Flat Minor, D. 79 "Eine kleine Trauermusik" 07:16
• String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden":
• 6 Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden": I. Allegro 11:08
• 7 Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden": II. Andante con moto 13:00
• 8 Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden": III. Scherzo. Allegro molto 03:45
• 9 Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden": IV. Presto 09:22
• Total Runtime 01:05:28

Info for Franz Schubert String Quartet No. 14, D. 810 Death and the Maiden, String Trio, D. 581 & Wind Nonet, D. 79 Eine kleine Trauermusik

This original programme brings together three very different works. The famous String Quartet No. 14, known as Death and the Maiden, one of the pillars of the chamber music repertoire. Composed in 1824, after the composer suffered a serious illness and realized that he was dying. It is named for the theme of the second movement, which Schubert took from a song he wrote in 1817 of the same title. First played in 1826 in a private home, it was not published until 1831, three years after Schubert's death.

More straightforwardly relaxed and too rarely performed, the String Trio of 1817 recalls Mozart’s Divertimento, K. 563 but pays homage to Haydn in the minuet whose trio, constructed like a sort of folk Lied, is unexpectedly entrusted to the viola. Finally, the too little-known Kleine Trauermusik, by a 16-year-old Schubert, is a piece written in a few minutes on 13 November 1813 at the announcement of the death of a dear friend: a stripped-down, haunting miniature chorale, which profoundly stirs the listener.

Pražák Quartet
Kocian Quartet
Czech Nonet

The Pražák Quartet
one of today’s leading international chamber music ensembles - was established in 1972 while its members were students at the Prague Conservatory, and won major chamber music prizes early on, including first prize at the prestigious Evian String Quartet Competition, along with a special recording prize from Radio France. Since then, the quartet has gained attention for its place in the unique Czech quartet tradition, and for its musical virtuosity.

For more than 30 years, the Prazak Quartet has been at home on music stages worldwide. They are regular guests in the major European musical capitals such as Prague, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Milan, Madrid, London, Berlin, and Munich, and have been invited to participate at numerous international festivals, where they have collaborated with such artists as Menahem Pressler, Jon Nakamatsu, Cynthia Phelps, Roberto Diaz, Josef Suk, and Sharon Kam.

The quartet has toured widely in North America, having performed in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Washington, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal and many others. The quartet returns to the US and Canada every other year.

The Prazak Quartet has recorded extensively for Praga/Harmonia Mundi which, to date, has released 50 award-winning CDs. In addition to numerous radio recordings in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, the Prazak Quartet has also made recordings for Supraphon, Panton, Orfeo, Ottavo, Bonton, and Nuova Era.

As of 2020, violinist Marie Fuxová and cellist Jonáš Krejčí joined the quartet. The new members bring their extensive string quartet and chamber music experience, having played with the Pavel Haas, Škampa, Petersen and Schulhoff quartets as well as in many chamber orchestras and ensembles. They bring their experience and energy into the group while remaining faithful to the Czech quartet tradition, character and quality which are the longtime hallmarks of the Pražák Quartet. A new CD with the last string quartets of Josef Haydn will be released on the Aparté/Praga label in August 2021.

Booklet for Franz Schubert String Quartet No. 14, D. 810 Death and the Maiden, String Trio, D. 581 & Wind Nonet, D. 79 Eine kleine Trauermusik