CD 83
Chamber Music Concert 2000
Mals, watercolor by Jakob Alt, 1828; Johann Rufinatscha’s native town
Towards the end of his life the South Tyrolean composer Johann Rufinatscha handed over a selection of his original scores to the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum to be preserved for eternity. In a manner of speaking, this is his spiritual legacy. Among these important compositions is the String Quartet in G Major that Rufinatscha had completed around 1878 in Vienna. It is one of his best works, which is also shown to advantage very effectively in this successful performance by some outstanding musicians. After Rufi natscha’s death, the rest of his surviving works went to the Tiroler Landesmuseum as well, seeing as how the composer had frequently expressed this wish. These musical remains include the String Quartet in E Flat Major composed many years before the G Major Quartet. This too is a piece that deserves undivided attention and appreciation. It is surely an enhancement to the domain of chamber music. The composer must have appreciated this very quartet himself, for he also arranged it for piano duet. Both of Rufi natscha’s string quartets deserve recognition beyond the scope of our activities. Johann Rufi natscha (1812-1893) Streichquartette
Track 4, 1:15
Streichquartett in Es-major
Allegretto