A classical chamber music playlist of an hour

So you are looking for a classical music playlist for in your car, the kitchen or just before you go to bed? I did my best to provide you one :-)

Heinrich von Herzogenberg (1843-1900) is primary known as the “groupie” of Johannes Brahms. Sometimes it became too much for poor Johannes, but fun fact is that many of Heinrich’s works have their own signature. Even is his Variations on a Theme by Johannes Brahms, Op.23, based on Brahms’ opus 7 no 5 song “Die Trauernde” (the mourning) sounds more Herzogenberg than Brahms. Lovely, forgotten, atmospheric work for 2 pianists. 

Florence Price (1887-1953) is in vogue. In the 2024-25 season in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, many works of her are performed and several of her symphonies recently received fine recording by Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the award winning John Jeter. But… my favourite work, where she shows really an own voice is her Piano quintet from 1936, with a tuneful finale that stick in your mind. 

Niels Gade’s (1817-1890) Andante and allegro in f minor is an early composition from 1837. Sometimes it’s labeled as a complete “string quartet”, but with only 14 minutes it’s more a testcase than a complete string quartet. 

The opus 2 fantasy pieces for oboe and piano are also early works, this time composed by Carl Nielsen (1865-1931). They were composed shortly after the composer had taken up the post of second violinist in the Royal Danish Orchestra in 1889. Lovely miniatures, performed by the Dutch oboist Han de Vries. 

Enjoy the program! 

Heinrich von Herzogenberg (1843-1900) 

Tracks 01-09 Variations on a Theme by Johannes Brahms, Op.23 (1875)

Pianoduo Amacord

Ivana Alkovic and Maarten den Hengst, piano

Recorded 2023

Florence Price (1887-1953)

Tracks 10-13 Quintet In A Minor For Piano And Strings (1936)

Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective

Tom Poster, piano

Elena Urioste and Melissa White, violin

Rosalind Ventris, viola

Laura van Der Heijden, cello

Recorded 2020

Niels Gade (1817-1890)

Track 14 Andante And Allegro Molto In F Minor (1837)

The Kontra quartet

Anton Kontra and Boris Samsing, violin

Peter Fabricius, viola

Morten Zeuthen, cello

Recorded 1995

Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)

Tracks 15-16 Two fantasy pieces for oboe and piano op 2 (1889)

Han de Vries, oboe

Rudolf Jansen, piano

Recorded 1976

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4xKuL3FyeombXx1AG85qnY?si=db9369fad952416d(HTTP web link)