Ernest Chausson

Ernest Chausson (1855-1899)

Nationality: French
Born: January 20, 1855, Paris Died: June 10, 1899, Limay (age 44)

Piano Quartet in A major, Op. 30

(for violin, viola, cello and piano)
11:45 I. Animé
9:02 II. Très calme
3:48 III. Simple et sans hâte
12:08 IV. Animé
Duration: 35 minutes (approximately)
Composed: 1897-1898 (age 41-43)
Published: 1898 (age 42-43)
Dedication: Auguste Pierret
11 recordings, 44 videos
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11:47
Schubert Ensemble (live)
I. Animé
8:56
Schubert Ensemble (live)
II. Très calme
3:49
Schubert Ensemble (live)
III. Simple et sans hâte
13:30
Schubert Ensemble (live)
IV. Animé
12:21
Ensemble der KammerMusikKöln
I. Animé
9:27
Ensemble der KammerMusikKöln
II. Très calme
4:28
Ensemble der KammerMusikKöln
III. Simple et sans hâte
13:57
Ensemble der KammerMusikKöln
IV. Animé
12:27
Ensemble Monsolo
I. Animé
9:25
Ensemble Monsolo
II. Très calme
3:29
Ensemble Monsolo
III. Simple et sans hâte
12:02
Ensemble Monsolo
IV. Animé
13:09
Ellemis Piano Quartet
I. Animé
8:42
Ellemis Piano Quartet
II. Très calme
4:17
Ellemis Piano Quartet
III. Simple et sans hâte
14:00
Ellemis Piano Quartet
IV. Animé
11:17
Streichtrio Berlin
I. Animé
9:43
Streichtrio Berlin
II. Très calme
3:48
Streichtrio Berlin
III. Simple et sans hâte
10:35
Streichtrio Berlin
IV. Animé
11:58
Régis Pasquier, Bruno Pasquier (viola), Roland Pidoux, Jean-Claude Pennetier
I. Animé
10:04
Régis Pasquier, Bruno Pasquier (viola), Roland Pidoux, Jean-Claude Pennetier
II. Très calme
3:45
Régis Pasquier, Bruno Pasquier (viola), Roland Pidoux, Jean-Claude Pennetier
III. Simple et sans hâte
11:57
Régis Pasquier, Bruno Pasquier (viola), Roland Pidoux, Jean-Claude Pennetier
IV. Animé
11:42
Schubert Ensemble
I. Animé
8:58
Schubert Ensemble
II. Très calme
3:41
Schubert Ensemble
III. Simple et sans hâte
12:03
Schubert Ensemble
IV. Animé
11:56
Quatuor Schumann
I. Animé
10:08
Quatuor Schumann
II. Très calme
4:06
Quatuor Schumann
III. Simple et sans hâte
12:20
Quatuor Schumann
IV. Animé
10:06
Bamberg Piano Quartet
I. Animé
7:16
Bamberg Piano Quartet
II. Très calme
3:17
Bamberg Piano Quartet
III. Simple et sans hâte
10:51
Bamberg Piano Quartet
IV. Animé
11:21
Levy, et. al.
I. Animé
8:26
Levy, et. al.
II. Très calme
3:36
Levy, et. al.
III. Simple et sans hâte
10:44
Levy, et. al.
IV. Animé
11:46
Ames Piano Quartet
I. Animé
8:31
Ames Piano Quartet
II. Très calme
3:45
Ames Piano Quartet
III. Simple et sans hâte
11:21
Ames Piano Quartet
IV. Animé
From Edition Silvertrust

Ernest ChaussonChausson's Piano Quartet in A Major, Op.30 dates from 1897. The lovely opening movement, Animé, is warm and bright, sunny skies and well-being are conjured up. The second movement Très calme has a limpid, poetic quality. It is lyrical and gentle. Next comes a kind of intermezzo, Simple et sans hâte, essentially gentle and pleasant. The finale, Animê, opens in frenetic fashion, full of breathless anxiety. And here, Chausson shows he is still a bit under the influence of his old teacher Franck as themes from all of the preceding movements are given a recapitulation. There is no mistaking this work as a child of French impressionism. Of its kind, it is a very good work. It deserves to be heard in concert.

Ernest Chausson (1855-1899) was born in Paris into a wealthy family. Although he received some musical training as a boy, a career in music was never envisaged by either his father or himself. He studied law and became a barrister but realized he had no interest in the law. After dabbling in writing and painting, he decided to study music and entered the Paris Conservatory in 1879 where he studied first with Jules Massenet and later César Franck. His friend Vincent d’Indy introduced him to the music of Wagner. Scholars generally divide his work into three periods, early, middle and late. His very early works tend to show the influence of Massenet. In those which come later there is also the influence of Franck and Wagner.

© Edition Silvertrust. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Related Composers

1900 WWI WWII César Franck (1822-1890) Jules Massenet (1842-1912) Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) Vincent d'Indy (1851-1931) Ernest Chausson (1855-1899) Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931) Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Gustave Samazeuilh (1877-1967)
César Franck (1822-1890)
Teacher
Nationality: French | Belgian
Born: December 10, 1822, Liège Died: November 8, 1890, Paris (age 67)
Jules Massenet (1842-1912)
Teacher
Nationality: French
Born: May 12, 1842, Montaud, St Etienne Died: August 13, 1912, Paris (age 70)
Vincent d'Indy (1851-1931)
friend, colleague
Nationality: French
Born: March 27, 1851, Paris Died: December 2, 1931, Paris (age 80)
Gustave Samazeuilh (1877-1967)
Student
Nationality: French
Born: June 2, 1877, Bordeaux Died: August 4, 1967, Paris (age 90)