Ernst von Dohnányi ： Piano Quintet No.1 in c-moll Op.1

The piano and string quartet engage in dialogue, weaving together weighty sonorities and expansive melodies in this four-movement work. The piano is called upon to provide rich chords and brilliant movement, while the strings also pass themes among themselves and help drive the musical flow. The contrast between tense passages and lyrical sections, as well as the changing character of each movement, offers much to hear. In performance, the piano should be balanced so that its volume does not cover the strings, with all players listening closely to one another’s phrases. Keeping rapid passages clear and sharing the breath and resonance of slower melodies helps convey the work’s overall sense of structure.