Romantic Masters with Vanbrugh & Friends

The Vanbrugh & Friends present two popular and contrasted works from the Romantic Masters of the string quintet repertoire.

Brahms Clarinet Quintet in B minor Op.115 arr. for string quintet
Dvořák String Quintet in E flat major Op.97 ‘American’

Keith Pascoe, Simon Aspell and Christopher Marwood of the Vanbrugh, are joined by violinist Marja Gaynor and violist Ed Creedon for this very special concert of Brahms and Dvořák, promising a memorable performance of these masterpieces of Romantic music.

The Brahms Quintet is the composer’s own alternative, and rarely performed, version of his famous clarinet quintet, with the clarinet part being played by a solo viola. Its richly autumnal soundworld is subtly altered in this string quintet version, the more blended voices offering a transparent texture of great beauty.

Brahms was an admirer and supporter of Dvořák’s work and the two were close friends from 1877 until Brahms’ death in 1897. Dvořák wrote this E flat major quintet during his time in America 1892-1895 as Director of the National Conservatory of Music. This fruitful and inspired period also produced the New World symphony, the American string quartet and the cello concerto. This lovely quintet is filled with flowing melodies, rhythmic buoyancy and, above all, a sense of joy.

Written only two years apart, these quintets by Romantic Masters are jewels of the string quintet repertoire, and at West Cork Music we are delighted that the Vanbrugh & Friends are bringing them to Bantry.

This concert is part of the West Cork Music Concert Series, and the National String Quartet Foundation Autumn Tour