Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778 - 1837)
Sonata for pianoforte and violin in F, op. 5,2 [16:54]
Sonata for pianoforte and viola in E flat, op. 5,3 [23:37]
Sonata for pianoforte and violin in B flat, op. 5,1 [22:21]
Michael Jarvis (fortepiano), Paul Luchkow (violin, viola)
rec. 21-23 June 2011, private residence, Greater Vancouver (British Columbia),
Canada. DDD
MARQUIS MAR 81419 [62:53]
Johann Nepomuk Hummel is a composer whose oeuvre is in the process of being
rediscovered. He is still in the shadows of the Viennese classical masters,
Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. That said, his list of recordings is considerable,
and continues to grow. Among his most popular works are his piano concertos
and piano trios. The third of the three sonatas op. 5 has been recorded several
times. That may well be to do with the fact that it is scored for viola. As
there are not that many solo pieces for this instrument it is understandable
that this sonata has entered the repertoire of viola players. Thepresent recording
seems to be the first of the whole set if I am to believe ArkivMusic.
Hummel is often considered a rather conservative composer. That might well
explain why his music was so soon forgotten after his death. He was the last
great representative of the classical style, and during his life he held Mozart
- who was his teacher for some years - in high esteem. It was the emergence
of the romantic piano virtuosos which led to his downfall. Even so, the likes
of Liszt and Chopin played his music, and the latter was influenced by Hummel
in his own compositions for the piano. Hummel was also on friendly terms with
many great composers of the next generation, such as Schumann, Schubert and
Weber. In some respects he was quite modern. He advocated the use of equal
temperament and a universal standard pitch which would make the life of travelling
musicians much easier. Considering the continuing debate on intellectual property
rights it is interesting that Michael Jarvis, in his liner-notes, mentions
that Hummel championed these rights as well as musicians' copyright. That
is reason enough for his name to be held in high esteem.
The three sonatas on this disc bear witness to Hummel's preference for the
classical style. If you like your Mozart, you will certainly enjoy these pieces
as well. They date from around 1798 and are in three movements. Most of these
are in a moderate tempo. Moderation seems to be the name of the game here,
as Jarvis underlines. Romantic rubato is absent; Jarvis refers to Czerny who
stated that Hummel himself played in such a way that "the tempo was so constant
that you could let a metronome beat to it". Hummel is also very specific in
his instructions in regard to articulation and dynamics. The second movement
of the Sonata in F is an andantino con grand' espressione. This
expression is achieved by the two instruments playing sotto voce e legato
assai.
These performances have two features which I especially appreciate. Firstly,
the recording was made in a private residence. The acoustic is pretty dry,
but also has a great amount of intimacy. As a listener you sit very close
to the performers, and this could well reflect the way this kind of repertoire
was played in Hummel's days. For that reason no detail is lost. Secondly,
these sonatas are specifically scored for keyboard and violin or viola, in
that order. It means that the fortepiano has the lead, and that has been strictly
observed in this recording. Everyone who regularly listens to this kind of
repertoire will know that this is often ignored, and the melody instrument
is given too dominant a position. The two instruments also blend wonderfully
well, partly due to the lack of a wide vibrato in the violin and the viola.
Michael Jarvis plays an anonymous instrument with Viennese action of around
1800. It has a bassoon stop which is obviously not used here. The moderator
is effectively switched on in the second movement of the Sonata in F
mentioned before. The damper pedal is sparingly used because Hummel had a
conservative view as to its use, and there are no pedal indications in the
scores. These things confirm that we have here two very sensitive artists
who really want the music to speak as it was intended by Hummel. The intimate
surroundings not only reflect the historical conditions, they also fit the
approach of these performers who have delivered a compelling interpretation
which makes a lasting impression.
Johan van Veen
http://www.musica-dei-donum.org
https://twitter.com/johanvanveen
Intimate and sensitive performances of three sonatas by Hummel.
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