Piano Quintet (1897)
String Quartet No 2 (1893)
String Quartet No 3 (1911)
Foote is one of a number of classic American nineteenth century composers.
The Piano Quintet has a Brahmsian dash in the first movement while the
allegretto second movement is sheerly delightful in a Dvorákian
way. There is a whirlwind scherzo and then another Dvorákian movement
to round things off. The second quartet opens with an allegro giocoso
of eventide brilliance succeeded by a Mendelssohnian Scherzo,
some pleasing variations and a finale that harks back to the Bach double
violin concerto.
The third quartet is dedicated to Frederick Stock (who championed Foote's
work in Chicago) and although Dvorák is once again a presence in the
music there are many tart and unusual harmonies perhaps reaching outwards
towards the richness of the Franz Schmidt string quartets. The second movement
buzzes delicately but the third movement is rather conventional succeeded
by a finale of Janacekian lyricism.
Good music neglected for no reason other than laziness and a prejudice against
a home-grown product. In England we can view Foote through a range-finder
which (locally) also takes in Stanford and Parry.
Reviewer
Rob Barnett
James Barbagallo (piano) Da Vinci Quartet
