Wilhelm Berger (1861-1911)

Nationality: German

Born: August 9, 1861, Boston Died: January 15, 1911, Jena (age 49)

wikipedia | imslp

Piano Quartet in A major, Op. 21

(for violin, viola, cello and piano)

		I.	Allegro
		II.	Andante, ma non troppo
		III.	Intermezzo. Allegro scherzando
		IV.	Allegro vivace e giocoso

Published: 1887 (age 25-26)

Related Composers

Selim Palmgren (1878-1951)

Student

Nationality: Finnish

Born: February 16, 1878, Pori Died: December 13, 1951, Helsinki (age 73)

Friedrich Kiel (1821-1885)

Teacher

Nationality: German

Born: October 8, 1821, Bad Laasphe, Puderbach Died: September 14, 1885, Berlin (age 63)

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
e [It]—and
giocoso, giocando, con gioco, giojoso—humorous, jocose, merry joking
intermezzo, intermedio [S], intermède [F], interlude, Entr'acte—music that is "inserted" (or "interpolated) between two musical entities of greater importance (e.g. movements, acts, verses, etc.). Often suggests music of a lighter character, entertaining contrast or even improvisation.
ma—but, however
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
piano quartet, Klavierquartett [G], Quatuor avec piano [F]—a ensemble (work) comprising violin, viola, cello and piano. Most of the great Classical and Romantic composers produced one or more works for this combination of which many are masterworks of chamber music.
scherzando [I], scherzoso, scherzante—playfully, lively, jestingly
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
vivace—brisk, lively tempo faster than allegro