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Joseph Franz Maximilian Lobkowicz
(1772–1816)
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In the 1790's in Vienna, one gained a
reputation among the cognoscenti as a composer by acquiring a
commission to write something for performance in one of their palaces
and then perhaps elsewhere. Many of the ruling class in Austria and
certain among the diplomatic corps of many adjacent countries who
were in regular attendance at the Hapsburg court were amateur or
better musicians.
On another post we said that many of
the first performances of the classical period string quartets took
place within the confines of these palaces away from the attention
(or lack of it) of the general public. Ideally suited to be played
in dedicated rooms, as one hears those of the young Beethoven as they
stack up against the creations of Mozart and Haydn, one is struck by
a number of features missing in the works of the other two.
Beethoven is always an innovator throughout these, which were
Beethoven's first six string quartets and he remains throughout
always unmistakably Beethoven.
One patron was Prince Lobkowicz who
also figured in the production of Haydn's Lobkowitz quartets. Yes,
there does seem to have been at least a genial competition between
the young man from Bonn and the ageing composer from Estahaz. These quartets are played here expertly by the now
disbanded Quartetto Italiano.
These performances are thus a kind of
musical treasure or legacy, the kind that is meant to set a standard
for future performances.
Of course these remain a certain test
of the abilities of any string quartet that attempts them. Rather
than being confined to a room where only the four musicians can hear
them, these works are better suited for performance in small concert
venues where perhaps fewer than 500 can hear them at a time. We are
placing them here that more become aware of the fact that though
Beethoven's last quartets are certainly astounding, these early works
are in their way no less remarkable and in fact they actually set
down many nuances, scenes, balances of harmonic colour, structure of
themes and phrases, etc. all of which he would carry though to their
ultimate realizations in his last works. We believe it's high time
for more to recognize the remarkable first six of Beethoven's
incomparable production in this form for what they are; works
demonstrating Beethoven's remarkable genius. As a friend remarked as
we heard them together, “why should any composer bother to try and
do any better.” Well, we all stand on the shoulders of giants in
most fields of endeavour, why should it be any different in music?
One of those giants has surely always been Ludwig van Beethoven, long
may his beloved music sound!
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