Does anyone know anything about the music of Prince Heinrich XXIV Reuss of Köstritz? He seems to have left a reasonably substantial body of works including six symphonies and a lot of chamber music. The only recording I can find is a viola sonata and the extracts on amazon.com sound quite promising. He is a younger contemporary of Brahms and died in 1910 according to wikipedia.
Scores of his piano quartet and his 1902 (piano) quintet are available on the site imslp.org . It would be good to have recordings of some of his music... the very little I've seen and heard about is intriguing.
(His opus number situation may be a bit of a mess if his op.21 sonata was published around 1880 and his op.15 quintet was written, not just published, in 1902. But that's not so unusual.)
Eric
See here (http://www.klassika.info/Komponisten/Heinrich_XXIV_Prinz_Reuss/wv_opus.html) for some (somewhat sourceless) information on some of his works (e.g. apparently his 3rd symphony is in E minor, op.28, composed 1907 and published the same year. Though this (http://www.worldcat.org/title/3-symphonie-e-moll/oclc/165682903) link backs some of that up...)
Eric
Thank you! I will download the scores later today. He seems like a perfect candidate for CPO.
Quote from: eschiss1 on Tuesday 24 August 2010, 00:44His opus number situation may be a bit of a mess if his op.21 sonata was published around 1880 and his op.15 quintet was written, not just published, in 1902.
That is only to be expected, considering his family background:
Heinrich XXIV, Fürst Reuss zu Köstritz, was the son and heir of Heinrich IV. Heinrich XXIV married a cousin, Elisabeth, daughter of Heinrich LXXIV. Their two sons were named Heinrich XXXIX and Heinrich XLI. Heinrich XXXIX's eldest son and heir is another Heinrich IV.
I have recordings of a couple of movements from his Symphony No.3 and complete performances of the Piano Quintet, String Quintet, String Quartets Nos.2 & 3 and a Piano Suite. I don't know how his music comes across when read in score but, with their narrow emotional range and predictable harmonic language, all these works bring to mind the first half of the 19th century: Mendelssohn seems to have been his model. I suspect that Prinz Reuss was an extremely refined man; certainly his music in these performances is so carefully considered and delicately scored that it is robbed of much of the vitality that one would expect from the 1880s-1900s. He could certainly write a hummable tune and it may be that a more vigorous approach would give his music the spark of life which it largely lacks in the performances which I have.
Is there any relation to August Reuss??
Thal
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Tuesday 24 August 2010, 08:07
I have recordings of a couple of movements from his Symphony No.3 and complete performances of the Piano Quintet, String Quintet, String Quartets Nos.2 & 3 and a Piano Suite. I don't know how his music comes across when read in score but, with their narrow emotional range and predictable harmonic language, all these works bring to mind the first half of the 19th century: Mendelssohn seems to have been his model. I suspect that Prinz Reuss was an extremely refined man; certainly his music in these performances is so carefully considered and delicately scored that it is robbed of much of the vitality that one would expect from the 1880s-1900s. He could certainly write a hummable tune and it may be that a more vigorous approach would give his music the spark of life which it largely lacks in the performances which I have.
Oh maybe not so promising then. :(
Though as you say the performances can make a world of difference (sometimes anyway) and I do like music of the Mendelssohn era as much as I like late romantic music.
Quote from: thalbergmad on Tuesday 24 August 2010, 12:09Is there any relation to August Reuss??
The Princes Reuss are always called Heinrich.
August Reuss was the son of a builder.
An interesting bit of information on the Heinrichs: the Princes zu Reuss are indeed all named Heinrich, and numbered sequentially by century. So theoretically, Heinrich I could be Heinrich MMCCCLXIV's younger brother if he were born on the 1st of January, 1900.
Also, Köstritz is a famous supplier of beer in Germany, and Köstritzer Schwarzbier is among the best beers I know of.
Heinrich Reuss XXlV Prince of Reuss-Kostritz, Austria 8.12.1855- 2.10.1910
I first came across HR in Cobbett's, where his chamber music was well reviewed. There is a rare viola sonata in which the Cobbett's reviewer says 'The distinctive tone of the stringed instrument is fully recognised and at no time is the piano permitted to overpower it. The first movement is idyllic ---.'
HR's earliest music training was with his father1 .He subsequently had lessons with Heinrich von Herzogenberg and Wilhelm Rust.
The musical style of Heinrich XXIV was strongly influenced by Brahms, though it tends to be lighter in tone, and thus resembles more the style of Heinrich von Herzogenberg. Heinrich XXIV's chamber music compositions display a masterful command of musical form and technique.
During his lifetime, the compositions of Heinrich XXIV enjoyed favourable comment and regular performance.
Are there any reviews of the symphonies ? If they are as good as the chamber music they deserve exploration.
Orchestra
Symphony No. 1 in C minor Op. 10 1892
Symphony No. 2 in A major (N.B. Stolle's biography says D major - LOST)
Symphony No. 3 in E minor Op. 28 1907
Symphony No. 4 in A major Op. 30
Symphony No. 5 in F minor Op. 34 1907
Symphony No. 6 in E flat major Op. 36 1909
Chamber
Piano Quintet in C major Op.15 pub. by Rahter 1902
Piano Quartet in F minor Op.6 pub. by Simrock 1895
Piano Trio in C sharp minor Op.14 pub. by Junne 1903
Piano Trio in A major for violin, viola and piano Op.25 pub. by Mozarthaus
Piano Trio for violin, cello and piano Op.37 pub. Mozarthaus
String Sextet No.1 in D minor Op.12 pub. by Schott 1899
String Sextet No.2 in B minor Op.17 pub. by Simrock 1902
String Quintet in F major for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello Op. 4 pub. by Peters 1887
String Quartet No.1 in D minor Op. 1 pub. by Gutman 1881
String Quartet No.2 in F major Op. 11 pub. by Eulenberg
String Quartet No.3 in A flat major Op. 16 pub.by Schott, Brussels 1903
String Quartet No.4 in G minor Op.23/1. pub.by Mozarthaus 1904
String Quartet No.5 in E flat major Op.23/2 pub.by Mozarthaus 1904
Sonata No.1 in G minor for violin and piano Op. 5 pub. by Peters, 1888
Sonata No.2 in E minor for violin and piano Op. 21 pub. by Mozarthaus 1880
Sonata in G major for viola and piano, Op.22 pub. by Mozarthaus 1904
Sonata in C major for cello and piano Op.7 pub. by Simrock 1895
Piano
3 Preludes Op.2
Suite Op.8: Praeludium, Allemande, Gavotte, Siciliano, Bourrée, Sarabande, Gigue 1895
Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme Op.19 1904
Vocal
Five Lieder for voice and piano, Op.3 texts by Ludwig Uhland and Nikolaus Lenau 1883
Tunosfecisti ad te, Motet for mixed chorus a capella, Op.24 text by Aurelius Augustinus
I've never seen even a partial worklist for Prinz Ruess before - this is really valuable, thanks Giles. I have some off-air recordings, one supposedly of two movements from his Third Symphony, and also of several of his piano and chamber works, but haven't listened to them for years. I'll look them out and, if they're good enough quality, I'll post some in our downloads board at some stage.
Several members of his family were musicians.
There is another partial list of his works, though possibly partially misattributed, here (https://imslp.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_Heinrich_Reuss). IMSLP also has, thanks to Matesic, one recording that is not an aircheck but rather more of a simulated (SBB) recording of one of his string sextets.
Try a search under 'Heinrich Reuss XXlV' at YouTube.
I'd forgotten that the Viola Sonata had been recorded:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/heinrich-xxiv-reuss-zu-koestritz-sonate-fuer-viola-klavier-g-dur-op-22/hnum/8346597
...and that I have the selfsame CD. Mind you, I seem to remember the Kiel Viola Sonata being so fine that it probably put the Reuss somewhat in the shade:
http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,5837.msg62479.html#msg62479
For more information there is a comprehensive study about live and work of Heinrich XXIV. Prince Reuß-Köstritz (unfortunately only in German language), published by Olms in 2016:
Michael Stolle: Der Komponist Heinrich XXIV. Reuß-Köstritz. Ein Meister strenger Schönheit.
316 pages.
https://www.olms.de/search/Detail.aspx?pr=2009051
Symphony No. 1 in C minor Op. 10 (1892)
1st mov: Assai sostenuto
2nd mov: Andante (starts at 12' 52'')
3rd mov: Allegro Molto (starts at 22' 53'')
All three movements here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNTpfADtLOo
This was well worth resurrecting. I don't sense a very distinct personality but, like his teacher Herzogenberg's 1st Symphony of 1885, this is certainly powerful stuff and would make a fine addition to any classical label's catalogue. Cpo, perhaps?
Thanks very much indeed for all your hard work on this!
Oh, and in case anyone is wondering 'Why only three movements?', the answer is that the second movement contains a much faster section before returning to its opening andante tempo.
Once again, we are substantially in your debt, Reverie. I'm looking forward to listening to it.
It's a very fine piece. I'm still coming to terms with the quiet ending, but Brahms 3 (written nine years before) is a clear precedent.
If you can read German, here's the contents of the book by Michael Stolle:
http://www.olms.de/inhalt_pdf/9783487085777.pdf (http://www.olms.de/inhalt_pdf/9783487085777.pdf)
...which I've decide to buy for research purposes. I'll post again in due course.
Thank you.
I personally love the middle movement, especially the opening contrasted with the lively schezo.
I wonder where the other symphony scores lurk? Maybe our resident detectives could do some rummaging? Here's hoping.
Eric - can you help, please?
The 3-movement 3rd symphony (Op.28 in E minor) is in the collection of the Fleisher Collection (https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/897885). (I see the first symphony is downloadable from Berlin UDK. They also have the score of the 5th symphony op.34, not digitized (yet).) St. Pancras has symphonies 5 & 6 in score.
Bodleian Library, Oxford, has full score of the 4th Symphony, and, like Fleisher, score + parts of the 3rd - at least, according to WorldCat.
So only No. 2 has still to be located.
Was No. 2 actually published? If not and it remained in MS, it may (alas!) be lost.
Giles,
Can you give a source for No. 2? From experience I know how easy it is to have works show up multiple times in listings, particularly when all of them were numbered later in the composer's life or after his death; the non-existent Rufinatscha "Fourth" is a good example. In short: could it be possible that Nos. 2 and 4 are the same work?
I think these later symphonies were all published - when published- with numbers and by 1910. For no.6 1909 is an estimated publication date, it seems, not a composition date. The 2nd symphony could relate to this 3-page autograph (https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb440021610) excerpt from a manuscript seven years before the 4th was published in 1907, though that doesn't prove they're not the same work-
"2 ième partie d'une Sinfonie en la H. XXIV Fr. Reuss"
Thanks to all of you for doing this research.
Quote from: Alan Howe on Sunday 24 January 2021, 17:21
Thanks to all of you for doing this research.
Hi, is this music any good? I hope to hear it on a day with nice recordings, but not CPO booklets...
:D
Have you tried Reverie's superb realisation of the First Symphony?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNTpfADtLOo
there are also "live" orchestral and chamber recordings of some of his works in our uploads ("Downloads") section and on YouTube (and a good performance by "Steve's Bedroom Band" of the 2nd string sextet at IMSLP.) No cpo recordings of any kind at yet in any case, I believe- I'm not even aware that they have any in the can, though I wouldn't know of any if they did (unless I noticed some in radio broadcast things somehow or something..)
According to Stolle's biography, the composer definitely wrote six symphonies, of which five are extant, as follows:
Symphony No. 1 in C minor Op. 10 (1888, pub.1892)
Symphony No. 2 in D major WoO 1 (before 1889, unpublished; lost) - N.B. I have corrected the entry in Giles' listing.
Symphony No. 3 in E minor Op. 28 (1897, pub.1907)
Symphony No. 4 in A major Op. 30 (pub.1907)
Symphony No. 5 in F minor Op. 34 (pub.1907)
Symphony No. 6 in E flat major Op. 36 (pub.1909)
So, Nos.2 and 4 are quite different works, in two different keys. Unfortunately, the score of No.2 is lost (Stolle, p.103).
In addition, No.6 is in E flat major, not E major.
I believe Wikipedia has the same error...
....not any more!
Well done, Alan. Thank you.
Well done, yourself! You guessed right about No.2!
Incidentally, the full title of Stolle's biography ('Der Komponist Heinrich XXIV. Reuß-Köstritz. Ein Meister strenger Schönheit') gives a clear hint as to his compositional syle - 'A Master of Stern (or strict, rigorous, severe) Beauty'.
Quote from: Alan Howe on Monday 25 January 2021, 12:51'A Master of Stern (or strict, rigorous, severe) Beauty'.
Does this give pleasure or show him to be of the academic nature? Can you sponsor some professional recordings?
:)
I don't have the money, so no!
As for Reuss' music, I suspect the description is to do with his strictly classical approach, but this no bar to enjoyment for me, although we haven't got much to go on - just his Viola Sonata and 1st Symphony. Beauty is still beauty, after all - however it is achieved, e.g. there is beauty that is luxuriant and beauty that is austere...
I had completely misjudged the Viola Sonata (1904), available on the TXYart label. I suppose it is rather Brahmsian, reminiscent as it is of the latter's late, autumnal style - thus it is very beautiful in a wistful sort of way, but there is much memorable writing, as there is in the 1st Symphony:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/heinrich-xxiv-reuss-zu-koestritz-sonate-fuer-viola-klavier-g-dur-op-22/hnum/8346597 (tracks 8-10)
This is clearly a composer of whom we ought to hear more.
I recall also hearing string quartets and two movements of another symphony of his at one point, I think, though they are not works I've seen in score/parts.
Alan, thanks for taking the time to dive into Stolle! I don't want to be the in-house sceptic, but through the years I've discovered to my cost that an off-hand remark, a mention in correspondence, or simply confusion can easily lead to chimaeras showing up in a person's oeuvre.
A shame the work is lost, of course, although it does offer the possibility of it showing up again at some point...
You are quite right, of course - on both counts.
Here are the first two* movements of Symphony No.3, written in 1897 but not published until 1907:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJHm5ZpsY18
The performers are: Sinfonieorchester Greiz, conducted by Hans-Rainer Förster.
A commercial recording of the 3rd Symphony was made in 1992, published by Engelsmann Life Records GmbH - whether the above is taken from that recording is not clear.
*correction: middle two
Great find Alan. I shall look forward to having a proper listen tomorrow.
I see they're marked on the video as movements I. & II., but surely they're two inner movements?
Probably not. Symphony 3 has only 3 movements.
1. Poco adagio (followed by fast something?)
2. Andante un poco sostenuto
3. Allegro vivace.
No, it's in four movements, as follows:
1. Poco adagio - Allegro passionato con brio
2. Andante un poco sostenuto (B major)
3. Allegretto un poco mosso (B minor)
4. Allegro vivace (E minor)
So, what we have on YouTube, as Mark correctly surmises, are the two middle movements. I have just confirmed this from the musical examples given in Stolle's biography, p.248. I have also added a correction to my first post on this symphony.
Oh, sorry. Maybe someone should inform Fleisher collection of the discrepancy...
Be my guest... ;)
Quote from: Alan Howe on Wednesday 27 January 2021, 17:52
A commercial recording of the 3rd Symphony was made in 1992, published by Engelsmann Life Records GmbH - whether the above is taken from that recording is not clear.
Was this a private recording? I can't find any mention of it online.
Stolle says that the recording was included in the CD 'Die Silbermann-Orgel auf Schloss Burgk und ihr musikalisches Umfeld' (='The Silbermann Organ at Burgk Castle and its Musical Context').
I imagine that this was a locally produced CD with limited circulation. Maybe only the two middle movements were ever recorded?
Lovely to hear some more beautifully written Reuss. The comments with the youtube are interesting. No there isn't much "sturm und drang" but to be quite honest I can only listen to so much Mahler these days. This music lowers my blood pressure which can only be a good thing :D
Ah. A search for the full title of the CD does turn up something, actually...
this (https://www.worldcat.org/title/silbermann-orgel-auf-schloss-burgk-im-spiegel-ihres-kulturellen-umfeldes/oclc/1183687687&referer=brief_results) has a full contents listing, including
"Andante; Allegro; Presto, aus Dritte Sinfonie e-Moll op. 28 / Heinrich XXIV. j.L. Prinz Reuss."
So yep. (Presto?)
Thank you, Eric. I forgot about Worldcat.
Nobody seems to have mentioned this piano trio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd1I50qZ8tk
It starts well - I'll see how I feel about it at the end!
It has been mentioned before, here:
http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,4932.msg15096.html#msg15096
But it had passed me by too!
About symphony no.3, I have received an email from the Special Collections Music Curator at Fleisher (just now) about symphony no.3 confirming the Stolle information (and containing extracts of score that I could save and reupload, the woodwind upper parts of the third movement, and the printed older catalog entry for the symphony):
"An examination of the actual printed score, however, matches the Stolle description you shared. The cataloger missed the third movement starting on page 60 and mislabeled the fourth movement as the third. Thank you for your message. I shall forward information to our cataloging department."
Well done, Eric. A nice correction.