(Joaquin Turina)
This piano quartet was written by the Spanish composer Joaquin Turina in 1931 when he was 49 years old. It was written with the Spanish traditional sound that used folk rhythms from his home country, often from his native Seville,. He also made use of other styles of composition that were used in Europe at the time which he learnt while studying in Paris.
It is written in three movements which start with Lento – Andante mosso in a slow but gentle swaying style which leads into the second movement, Vivo, which becomes faster and dance-like with the sound of the strings being plucked on the instruments. The third movement, Andante – Allegretto, becomes slower again and resembles a rhapsody with some of the music themes being used that were in the initial movement.
The work has been performed and recorded by several ensembles that include the Beaux Arts Trio, the Gemini Ensemble, the Lyric Piano Quartet, the Meadowmount Trio, the Nash Ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Philarte Quartet among many others.
Sources:
- http://sllmf.org/archive/notes_for_412.html
- https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/6929/piano-quartet-in-a-minor-op-67
- https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dw.asp?dc=W13927_67889
- https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/r-straussturina-piano-quartets
- https://www.allmusic.com/composition/piano-quartet-in-a-major-op-67-mc0002659406#appearsOn
- https://www.discogs.com/search?q=Piano+Quartet+in+A+minor+Op.+67+-+Turina&type=all