Quintet op. 38

The Nonet for Wind Quintet and Strings in E flat major op. 38 was completed by Louise Farrenc on the 2nd of february in 1849. After a private performance in the Salons of Madam Pierson-Bodin in December of the same year, the public premiere of the nonet took place on 19 March 1850 during a soirée at the Salons of Erard. The classical four-movement composition, Farrenc’s first chamber music work without piano, received a positive response without exception. Further performances speak for the popularity of the nonet. Nevertheless, the nonet remained unprinted during Farrenc’s lifetime.

Farranc also produced the version of the nonet for string quintet (2 violins, viola, cello and double bass) which is presented here. The occasion for the string quintet version must remain open. Neither the date of origin has been handed down, nor are there any indications of a possible publication project. There is also no known performance of this version, for which no performance material exists. Farrenc did not have to intervene in the composition when she rewrote it.

The reduction of the instruments was achieved solely by dispensing with doubling as well as by condensing the voice leading. If the nonet version is characterised by the colourfulness of the instrumentation, the quintet version can claim a homogeneous string sound for itself, which does not miss its effect.