ONSLOW, George 1784-1853

[Op. 58]. Vingt-troisième Quintetto pour deux Violons, Alto & deux Violoncelles ou pour deux Violons, Alto, Violoncelle & Contre-Basse composé et dédié À Mr. A de Barrau... Oeuv. 58. Pr. 2 Thlr. 8 Gr. [Parts]

Leipsic: Fr. Kistner [PN] 1167, [1837].

Folio. Violino 1o sewn, other parts unbound. Violino 1o: [1] (decorative title by Krätzschmer), [i] (blank), 3-12 pp.; Violino 2o: 9, [i] (blank) pp.; Alto: 8 pp.; Violoncello 1o: 10 pp.; Violoncello 2o: 8 pp.; Basso: 7, [i] (blank) pp. Title lithographed; music engraved.

Fingering in pencil to Violoncello parts.

Slightly worn.

An early edition, published within months of the first. Hoffmeister Monatsbericht September/October 1837, p. 115. WorldCat (3 copies in the U.S., at the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, and the University of Pennsylvania).

"[A] French composer of English descent... Onslow’s string quartets and quintets are the pinnacle of his output... The string quintets were composed for an interesting diversity of ensembles. The first, dating from 1806 to 1825 (opp.1 to 25) were written for two violins, viola and two cellos (a viola part being provided to replace the first cello if necessary). After hearing the double-bass player Dragonetti in London, Onslow replaced the second cello with a double bass (opp.32 to 35). With op.37 and its successors he favoured two cellos again, but all the quintets were published with... extra parts, allowing them to be played in [other] combinations... Like the quartets, these quintets bear witness to the richness of Onslow’s musical development, which departs from Classicism and embraces a style of composition in which a surprising anticipation of the language of Brahms is apparent. Some of these quintets must undeniably be placed among the great masterpieces of 19th-century chamber music." Viviane Niaux in Grove Music Online.

Item #25823

Price: $125.00  other currencies