Lekeu: Piano quartet

Day 352

Lekeu: Piano quartet in B minor

Quatuor Kandinsky

Lekeu was one of the great hopes of music who died young before he could achieve full artistic maturity. He was only 24 when he died. This piano quartet dates from the very end of his life and is unfinished. He only completed the first movement and though there is a completion of the second movement by D’Indy. This recording was of the first movement only. 

This is a typical piece of overheated late 19th century French chamber music, very much in the tradition of César Franck and his school. Had the work been completed it would have been a substantial addition to the repertoire and would probably have tested the stamina of performers and audiences alike. As it there was some attractive music here but I though that it was over written and at times the piano was in danger of overwhelming the string instruments. That’s not an uncommon fault in a young person’s music and no doubt had Lekeu reached maturity he would have developed a greater command of his material and learned the benefits of concision. 

So an interesting example of ‘what might have been’. I don’t know that it stands as a piece worth listening to frequently in its own right.