Emilie Mayer, String Quintet in D-Major, recording on youtube

[Double-A]

I just found a live recording of a performance of this work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hD08k3lpYg

It's an amateur performance (at least I hope so!) but quite good as such. The tempo of the scherzo is too slow and of the trio even more too slow.  The finale could also have a bit more drive.  But it can give an impression of the piece for those who are interested. It's still better than an electronic imitation. 

[Mark Thomas]

Judging by the manuscript cover page (at IMSLP) this is Mayer's second string quintet (it's titled "Quintetto II"). The other, also in manuscript, but bound and with a dedication to Liszt, is in D minor. It does seem to be an amateur performance, there are some intonation issues and you're right in thinking that the tempi are an issue. I've played around with the recording and found that speeding up the opening Allegro by 5%, the Scherzo by 15% (!) and the final Allegro vivace by 10% greatly improves the impression the work makes, though, in fairness to the performers, they've followed the timing guidelines given in the introduction to the modern score. Although conventional for its time, it's quite a good piece, I think, typical of Mayer's better chamber works. 

[Alan Howe]

IMSLP gives a possible date of ca 1853-57, i.e. around the time when much of her music was written. It's a fine work, very much of its time, but I don't find it particularly distinctive - which is my reaction to most of her music. Perhaps better string-playing might have helped...

[Mark Thomas]

I don't find it particularly distinctive - which is my reaction to most of her music.

Mine too. She was a very competent composer and she's at her best in chamber music, but there really isn't much individuality

[Double-A]

I should have mentioned that we have already two threads on Mayer's string quintets:

On the D-Major: https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,8500.msg88384.html#msg88384
On the d-minor: https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,8610.msg89252.html#msg89252

I have meanwhile transcribed quite a set of Mayer's chamber pieces for IMSLP though I did not announce them here.  I didn't feel like acting like a hen that celebrates every egg she produces with noise.  I am thinking about a more general post about her "style" and about "Mayerisms" but I am not there yet.

BTW it is possible, I think even likely, that the two quintets were planned as a pair.  Quintetto 2 could also be the one that was to be played second.  Almost every composer would play the minor piece first wouldn't they?  Even more so a composer who admires Beethoven.