Joseph Mayseder chamber music channels Schubert
By Ralph Graves
Joseph Mayseder was a violin virtuoso active in the mid-1800s. He was a torchbearer at Beethoven’s funeral and concertmaster of the Vienna Court Opera. He performed (and composed) chamber music extensively. This release represents some of his efforts. It includes two of his seven piano trios, and one of his two numbered violin sonatas.
Overall, I think Mayseder’s style closely resembles Schubert. While he doesn’t have Schubert’s gift for infinite melody, these works do have their appeal. The melodies are often lyrical and emotive.
Mayseder is also more concise than Schubert. He seems to have a more conservative sense of form. It provides his music with a strong sense of direction, building to logical climaxes throughout the movements. The clarity of these works reminded me very much of Felix Mendelssohn, a contemporary of Mayseder.
Members of the Lissy Quartet, along with pianist Srebra Gelleva perform the trios. The ensemble sound is rather spacious as if the members were sitting a little far apart.
Raimund Lissy and Gelleva play the Violin Sonata No. 2 with restrained emotion. Lissy seems to linger over some of the melodic phrases, adding to their beauty.
This is volume six in Gramola’s series devoted to Mayseder’s music. If you enjoy this release, I recommend getting the other recordings. They feature more of Mayseder’s chamber works, as well as his violin concertos and even a mass.
Mayseder Chamber Music, Volume Six
Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 34; Piano Trio No. 2 in A-flat major, Op. 52; Violin Sonata No. 2 in E minor, Op. 42
Lissy Quartet; Srebra Gelleva, piano
Gramola
