The music of the German composer Friedrich Gernsheim (1839–1918) is gradually beginning to emerge in recordings, revealing him as one of the finest composers of his age.
His two piano quintets are tightly constructed, powerfully argued and full of rhythmic energy, and also abound with memorable tunes.
They are, in fact, both masterpieces, among the very best of German Romantic chamber music, ranking alongside the Brahms and Schumann works.
These superb performances, in excellent sound, come from one of the finest young string quartets in Lithuania and an established poet of the keyboard, the Paris-based Russian Edouard Oganessian, also known as an organist.
Astonishingly, neither work has been recorded before.
Piano Quintet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 35: Allegro moderato
Piano Quintet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 35: Andante molto cantabile
Piano Quintet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 35: Vivace ed energico
Piano Quintet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 35: Allegro con brio
Piano Quintet No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 63: Molto moderato
Piano Quintet No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 63: Adagio
Piano Quintet No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 63: Allegretto molto grazioso e sempre scherzando
Piano Quintet No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 63: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo presto
Piano Quintet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 35: Allegro moderato