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Today, Ferdinand Ries (1784-1837), who was
born in Bonn as was Beethoven, 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 19 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 many years often performed
and well thought of. In 1808 he finished a septet for piano, 2
horns, violin, viola, cello and bass. His publisher, in an effort to
increase sales, demanded that he make a version for piano quintet.
This he did and it became known as his Piano Quintet in E flat
Major, Op.25. It was not a successful conversion and even if it
had been, the piano part requires a virtuoso. Ries performed and
published his Piano Quintet in b minor, Op.74 himself while he
was living in London during 1817. The first movement opens with
a long, slow, ominous introduction, Grave which then leads to an
exciting Allegro con brio. The second movement, Larghetto,
opens with a beautiful cello solo. The piano follows up and other
instruments are given cadenza like passages. The brilliant and
dramatic finale, Rondo, begins without a pause from the Larghetto.
In truth, however, this is not really chamber music but a concerto
for piano with the small body of strings serving as a miniorchestra.
(http://www.editionsilvertrust.com/pdfs/Guide-to-Piano-Quintets.pdf)
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