Ferdinand Ries' String Quintet No.1 in C Major dates from 1809. It was dedicated to the well-known violinist to his friend Ignaz Schuppanzigh, the first violinist of the String Quartet ensemble, which premiered all of Beethoven's String Quartets. The opening movement to the quintet, Allegro, begins rather strangely with the cello growling. Things move along slowly until a more lyrical subject gets things moving. Gradually, tension builds, and excitement follows. The second movement, Andante, begins with a substantial, mysterious introduction. The music has a ghostly quality to it. The Scherzo, which follows, is full of energy and forward motion. The trio section with its folk-like theme provides a nice contrast. The main theme of the upbeat finale, Allegro, is a jaunty dance-like subject that eventually turns into a wild section before calm is restored.
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.
It was no accident that Ries dedicated this work to one of Vienna's leading violinists and chamber music ensembles. It is a work intended for a concert. It requires amateurs of a high technical standard to bring it off at home.
