Johannes van Bree founded his own string quartet in 1838, with which he also programmed the quartets of Beethoven. However, his own three string quartets, in A minor (1834), in E-flat major (1840) and in D major (1849), are stylistically mainly indebted to those of Spohr and Mendelssohn. The third quartet was published as Grand Quatuor, perhaps because of its “grand” and “brilliant” style. The third movement includes variations on an Air Russe: Andante con variazioni, probably as a tribute by Van Bree to Anna Paulowna, King William II’s wife.
Like Van Bree, Johannes Verhulst wrote three string quartets. The first String Quartet in D major Op. 6:1 is the beautifully balanced, melodious and cleverly constructed work of a young composer who, on returning to our country, was welcomed as a musical hero and who would dominate Dutch musical life until the 1980s.
Presentation: Leo Samama
Johannes van Bree – String Quartet No. 3, in D minor
1. Allegro moderato, 2. Scherzo – Vivace, 3. Air russe – Andante con variazioni, 4. Finale – Allegro un poco agitato
Nomos Quartet
CD: NM Classics
Johannes Verhulst – String Quartet in D minor, Op. 6 No. 1 (1839)
1. Allegro non troppo, 2. Adagio, 3. Scherzo – Presto scherzando, 4. Finale – Presto con fuoco
Utrecht String Quartet
CD: MDG
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