Today, Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) is primarily remembered as a friend and student of Beethoven, as well as his first biographer. However, during his lifetime and for much of the 19th century, Ries was remembered as a fine composer and virtuoso pianist. He showed musical promise from an early age, studying both violin and piano with his father, and the cello with Bernhard Romberg. In 1801, he went to Vienna to study with Beethoven. He studied piano and composition with him for nearly 5 years. Thereafter, Ries concertized throughout Europe for a number of years before settling in London and then finally retiring in Frankfurt. He wrote a considerable amount of music, including several piano concertos and a large quantity of chamber music, which was for many years often performed and well thought of.
Piano Quartet No.1 in f minor, Op.13 was completed in 1808. It begins with an Adagio introduction in which several loud chords punctuate the proceedings. The main section, Allegro, has the aura of early Beethoven. The part writing is effective, but a fine pianist is required. The middle movement, Andantino, begins with a long solo in the piano, then the strings as a choir repeat the main subject, and again we hear early Beethoven. The finale, Rondo, allegretto moderato, concludes the work. Here, the thematic material is particularly compelling and memorable. Overall, if someone had told you that Beethoven had written this work in 1801, you would have believed them.
We have reprinted the original edition and note that as was customary for this period, the piano part is not a piano score, but just the piano part. This Piano Quartet from the early Romantic era would unquestionably do well in concert and should also give pleasure to amateurs.
