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Very little information is available about the English
composer Percy Godfrey (1859-1045) despite
the fact that he one a prize for his Coronation
March as well as his Piano Quintet in E flat
major, Op.16. He was not a member of the wellknown
Godfrey family of bandmasters. He was
born in the British town of Croxall. He appears to
have studied music with the British composer
George MacFarren and after graduating from Durham University
pursued a career as a composer, primarily of light music as well as
serving as a music teachers at King Edward’s School Canterbury..
His Quintet dates from 1900. It is a surprisingly good work from
an unknown. In four concise movements, it is easy to play but
with thematic material strong enough for concert. It opens with a
lilting, romantic Allegro, fresh and genial. The main section of the
second movement, Presto con fuoco, which serves as a scherzo, is
a bounding hunt theme, nicely contrasted by the trio which is a
chorale. Next comes a lovely Andante sostenuto, in which the
viola in particular is given a chance to shine. The music is romantic
and light hearted The finale, Allegro con brio, begins in march
-like fashion and leads eventually to a very effective fugue section.
The quintet can also be warmly recommended to amateurs.
(http://www.editionsilvertrust.com/pdfs/Guide-to-Piano-Quintets.pdf) |