Steinberg Duo

Suk Four Pieces, Op.17

Quasi Ballada Appassionato Un poco triste Burleska Composer and violinist Josef Suk was one of Dvo??k’s favourite pupils and the two men were very close, not least after Suk married Dvo??k’s eldest daughter Otilie in 1898. An accomplished performer, Suk played second violin in the Czech Quartet for the majority of his career. Indeed it […]

Dvo??k Ballade, Op.15

Written late in 1884 shortly after he completed his Seventh Symphony, the Ballade was written for a Christmas edition of the London Magazine of Music. Written in the brooding key of D minor it is another example of Dvo??k’s genius in devising small scale works of incredible emotional depth. The outer sections are characterised the […]

Smetana From The Homeland (Z domoviny, Aus der Heimat)

Moderato Andantino – Moderato Completed in the spring of 1880 shortly after Smetana finished his nationalistic tone poem cycle?M? vlast, From My Homeland?is a two movement work for violin and piano and one of only two works written by Smetana for this combination of instruments. He had by this point completely lost his hearing and […]

Dvo??k Four Romantic Pieces, Op.75

Allegro moderato Allegro maestoso Allegro appassionato Larghetto In January 1887 Dvo??k?was living in Prague with his family and a young chemistry student named Josef Kruis. Kruis was an amateur violinist and?Dvo??k?took it upon himself to write a trio for 2 violins and viola so the young man, his teacher Jan Perlik?n and?Dvo??k could play together. […]

Joining the dots…

As performers we spend hours worrying about?perfecting the notes & rhythms, clarifying articulation and refining dynamic shading, diligently slaving away our practice hours in the hope of improving our capacity to realise the dots and symbols representing the composer’s elusive intentions. ?Teachers spend hours on techniques to improve?sound quality, rhythm,?articulation, balance, and so on, all […]

Mozart Sonata for Piano & Violin in D, K.306

I Allegro con spirito II Andantino cantabile III Allegretto In August 1777, the 21 year old Mozart, frustrated with the limitations of his court employment and the musical environment in Salzburg, sought leave to undertake another European tour, his first as an adult. The archbishop released him from his post as concertmaster of the court […]

Saint-Sa?ns Sonata for Violin & Piano in D minor, Op.75

I Allegro agitato – Adagio II Allegretto moderato – Allegro molto Saint-Sa?ns was born in Paris in 1835 and spent much of his professional life in the city.? Like Mozart before him, the young Saint-Sa?ns was a prodigious talent, composing his first piece for piano at the age of 3 and making his formal debut […]

Franck Violin Sonata in A

I Allegretto ben moderato II Allegro III Recitativo – Fantasia: Moderato – Molto Lento IV Allegretto poco mosso Born in Liege in 1822, C?sar Franck?s early life was haunted by a rather over-bearing father who had great ambitions for his undoubtably talented son. Seeking the fame and fortune such talent could bring to their family, […]

Elgar Violin Sonata in E minor, Op.82

By 1918 and the end of the Great War, Elgar was in poor health and deeply disturbed by the tragic events that had befallen Europe. He and his wife rented a beautiful cottage near Fittleworth in Sussex called Brinkwells where Elgar enjoyed what was to become his last major creative period. In these wonderful surroundings […]