Alexander Krein (1883-1951)

Nationality: Russian | Soviet

Born: October 20, 1883, Nizhniy-Novgorod Died: April 21, 1951, Staraya Ruza (age 67)

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[2] Esquisses hébraïques [Hebrew Sketches]: Suite II (for clarinet and string quartet), Op. 13

(for clarinet, 2 violins, viola and cello)

4:41		I.	Andante con moto
4:25		II.	Allegro non troppo

Duration: 10 minutes (approximately)

Published: 1914 (age 30-31)

1 recording, 2 videos

autoopen autoplay

4:41

David Krakauer, et. al.

I. Andante con moto

4:25

David Krakauer, et. al.

II. Allegro non troppo

From Edition Silvertrust

Alexander Krein (1883-1951) was the son of a well-known Klezmer musician. He entered the Moscow Conservatory at fourteen, taking composition lessons from Sergei Taneyev. Subsequently, he joined the Society for Jewish Folk Music and began to weave Hebraic melodies into the format of orthodox chamber works.

The Two Sketches on Hebrew Themes for Clarinet Quintet, Op.13 is the second of a set of two, both from 1914. In these works, Krein sets himself the task of introducing Jewish folk melody into a formal chamber music setting. In two movements, the opening Andante con moto immediately captures the listener’s attention with its dramatic beginning as the clarinet enters over a restless, moving accompaniment in the strings. It is a long, sad plaint with Hebraique tinges. The second movement, Allegro non troppo, is an exotic dance, clearly based on Jewish folk melody

Related Composers

Grigory Krein (1879-1955)

brother

Nationality: Russian | Soviet

Born: March 18, 1879, Nischni Nowgorod Died: January 6, 1955, Komarowo (age 75)

Yulian Krein (1913-1996)

nephew

Nationality: Russian | Soviet

Born: March 5, 1913, Moscow Died: May 28, 1996 (age 83)

Sergei Taneyev (1856-1915)

Teacher

Nationality: Russian

Born: November 25, 1856, Vladimir-na-Klyaz′me Died: June 19, 1915, Dyud′kovo (age 58)

glossary

allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
andante [I]—moderately slow tempo (e.g. walking). Faster than adagio but slower than allegretto
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
clarinet quintet, Klarinettenquintett [G], quintette pour clarinette [F], Quintetto per clarinetto [I], Quinteto para Clarinete [S]—Most often refers to the chamber ensemble (and work) for string quartet and clarinet, a long cultivated genre of chamber music from Mozart to the present era, including many chamber music masterworks. Explore the Clarinet Quintet | wiki
con [I,S]—with
opus [L], opera[pl], Op., Opp, WoO, Op. posth—work, as in a work of art. For unique identification, publishers/composers often assign an "opus number", abbreviated as "Op." (e.g. Op. 1). A range of works by opus number, uses the plural "opp." (e.g. "Opp. 1-3"). A single opus number may refer to a collection of works (e.g. a set of quartets) giving rise to designations like "Op. 1, No. 4". For misc. works without opus numbers, "WoO" is often used (e.g."Without Opus"). Posthumously assigned numbers may use "Op. posth". Opus numbers may not precisely reflect chronology (publication vs. composition), can be erroneous, sparse or duplicative. Thus, the works of some historically important composers may use separate catalog numbers (e.g. Bach, Haydn, Schubert). See wiki
quintet, quintette [F], quintett [G], quintetto [I]—an ensemble / work for 5 players, the typical examples being string quintet (with second viola or cello), piano quintet or woodwind quintet
string quartet, Streichquartett [G], quatuor à cordes [F], quartetto d'archi [I], quartetto di cordi [I], cuarteto de cuerda [S], vonósnégyes [H]—ensemble or a work written for that ensemble comprising 2 violins, viola, and cello. This is one of the essential genres/forms/ensembles of chamber music and arguably a critical "core" of "classical" music. Explore the string quartet | wiki
suite—a set of instrumental pieces (movements) played together to create a larger whole. Suites tend towards collections of dances, frequently in the same key, preceded by a prelude, introduction or overture.
troppo [I], non troppo, trop [F]—too, too much. non troppo means "not too much". e.g. "Allegro ma non troppo" means fast, but not too much