Zdenek_FibichThough often overshadowed by his Czech contemporary, Antonin Dvorak, Zdeněk Fibich was a very talented composer during the late 19th century. Best known today for his theatrical works and the piano series Moods, Impressions, and Reminiscences. While a powerful symphony writer, Fibich is often at his best in his chamber works, such as the Piano Quartet we present today.

While Dvorak and Smetana wholly embraced Czech nationalism, Fibich retained a much more conservative style, more related to his German and Austrian contemporaries than the fellow Czech composers. This early work (1874) has sections with lyrical lines traded between violin and cello that could easily be mistaken by the modern listener as Brahms rather than Fibich.

Though written in E minor, the work begins with a tremolo B in the strings, followed by the outline of a B7 chord in the piano, giving the work a distinctly modal opening. The piano chord outline, with a dotted rhythm becomes much of the rhythmic basis for the opening theme and development section, though it is closely followed by a beautiful lyrical duet line between the violin and viola, with an echo in the cello (one of the area that show a clear Brahmsian character!).

After pianissimo chords to wind down the first movement, we’re treated to a lovely slow theme played as a string trio to open the second movement, joined in short order by the piano. The variations of this theme begin in the viola alone, continuing into a lyrical 6/8 variation. The piano takes the lead in our second variation, with a murmuring 16th note line, interrupted with lyrical string passages. The delicate variations continue, including a delightful pizzicato section, before building at the end to a fortissimo, dropping suddenly to a subito pianissimo to close out the second movement.

The Allegro energico third movement, while not as dramatic as the opening movement, shows the young 24 year old composer’s skills - weaving together the melodies of the previous two movements. A very energetic opening sets the stage and we hear regular ascending lines across multiple instruments building the energy of the movement. The calm of the melodies of the second movement returns, followed by the opening rhythm from the first movement, accompanied by descending arpeggios that bring the movement to a lively (and well rounded) close.

There are a few recordings of this work, though only one has wide availability today.
Panocha Quartet
Ensemble Villa Musica
Suk Quartet