Ludvig Norman's Piano Quartet in e minor, Op.10 was completed in 1857 and published in 1862. It is dedicated to his friend and mentor the Swedish composer Adolf Lindblad. It is in three movements and begins with a spacious and dramatic Allegro ma non troppo. The second movement, Andantino con moto, which begins somewhat slowly eventually picks up speed and is a kind of intermezzo. The finale is actually two movements in one. It begins with a somber Andante sostenuto, too long to be an introduction, its ominous mood builds tension which then leads to the powerful main section, Allegro molto e con fuoco.
Ludvig Norman (1831-1885) was born in Stockholm. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory shortly after it was founded by Mendelssohn. His composition teachers were Julius Rietz and Moritz Hauptmann, his piano professor was Ignaz Moscheles. A prolific composer, he also enjoyed a career as a pianist, conductor and teacher. Among his many pupils was the prominent composer Elfrida Andrée. Norman composed in a wide variety of genres, and chamber music was an important part of his oeuvre, among which there are two piano trios, a piano quartet, a piano sextet, five string quartets, a string quintet, a string sextet and a string octet
