Niels Gade (1817-1890) and Karl Goldmark (1830-1915)
Thanks to composer Niels Gade, we have come to realise how significant Mendlssohn’s influence must have been as early as the thirties of the 19th century. This was also true for Denmark, where Gade was educated and where he celebrated his first successes as a violinist and composer. According to Gades’ diary, the Quartet in F was based on ‘Wilkommen und Abschied’’ a poem written by Goethe at an early age.
Hungary born Karl Goldmark was half a generation younger than Gade and only three years older than Johannes Brahms. His musical compositions were strongly influenced by Mendelssohn and Schumann as well, especially his 1860 String Quartet in B flat major. After he had closely studied the quartets by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven on his own, he composed his one and only work in this genre in 1860.
Niels Gade – String Quartet in F major (1840)
- Allegro di molto, 2. Adagio con espressione
Performers: MidtVest Ensemble
CD: CPO
Carl Goldmark – String Quartet in B flat major, opus 8 (1860)
- Andante – Allegro moderato, 2. Andante sostenuto, 3. Allegro vivace, 4. Allegro molto
Performers: Glenke Quartet
CD: Hänsler Classic
Niels Gade – String Quartet in e minor, opus 8 (1877)
- Scherzo
Performers: Copenhagen String Quartet
CD: DaCapo