Foote: Chamber Music, Vol. 3

Editorial Reviews
From ClassicsToday.com
Even though American composer Arthur Foote (1853-1937) lived well into the 20th century, his music is definitely a product of 19th century Romanticism, particularly German Romanticism. This isn't to say his music is derivative, but it does hark back to modes established by Mozart, Schumann and Brahms, all of which seem to militate against the nationalistic use of any sort of American folk melodies. (Was he consciously trying to avoid sounding like Stephen Foster, the reigning folk-melodist of the time?) Whatever Foote might have been attempting in these chamber works, they certainly still delight. Oddly, parts of the perky Piano Trio 1 (especially the second movement) tap into Dvorak's and Brahms' ethnic tunefulness. But again, Foote isn't a Dvorak or Brahms wannabe. Both of the Piano Trios captured here are charming in the way they cleverly intermingle aspects of each instrument's unique character. The Melody for Violin and Piano, a clear sonata, was written in 1899 and sounds as if Schumann could have penned it, with the violin taking the role of the human voice (soprano or tenor, take your pick). The final work here is the Ballade for Violin and Piano of 1910, more of a duo than a sonata. Overall, this is an enjoyable collection of surprisingly delightful music, more European than American in disposition. The performers play about as well as we have any right to expect, and they're captured in an excellently balanced, vivid recording.

Tracks:

Pno Trio No.1 in c, Op.5: Allegro Con Brio
Pno Trio No.1 in c, Op.5: Allegro Vivace
Pno Trio No.1 in c, Op.5: Adagio Molto
Pno Trio No.1 in c, Op.5: Allegro Comodo
Pno Trio No.2 in B flat: Allegro Giocoso
Pno Trio No.2 in B flat: Tranquillo
Pno Trio No.2 in B flat: Allegro Molto
Melody, Op.44
Ballade, Op.69

Customer Reviews:

Intonation just fine.......2005-12-31

I have to disagree with one of the previous reviewers. While I find the recording to have some odd properties apparently due to the way it was engineered, there is nothing wrong with the intonation. It is not "out of tune"; I have listened to the recording several times and I am very sensitive to this issue. It is a lovely recording of truly wonderful music that needs far more exposure and appreciation. Thank you, Mr. Foote. You deserve better recognition and this recording does a wonderful service to you.

Arthur Foote - quickly becoming a chamber music favorite!.......2003-12-12

Once again, I am indebted to Naxos for unearthing more great American composers than you can shake seven dollars at. Never before Naxos had I heard of Arthur Foote and I am greatful for the three CD's so far released of his chamber music. Not only am I a huge fan of Romantic era music, but of chamber music as well. This third release of his chamber music does not disappoint. The two Piano Trios and the two works for piano & violin are clearly the inspiration of other Romantic giants, such as Dvorak, Brahms, and Schumann. But as the reviewer for ClassicsToday.com stated, Foote is no wannabe. He most assuredly has his own voice and knows the difference between plagarism and being inspired by another composer.
If you are looking for excellent late Romantic chamber works, you can't go wrong with any of Arthur Foote's music. Enjoy!

Lovely Music--Minor American Classics.......2002-07-30

If you think that Brahms's chamber music idiom has legs, then the Trio No. 1 by Arthur Foote is for you. It has the stateliness and some of the drama of Brahms, though ultimately it emerges a more smiling and sunny creation than the German master ever seems to create in the key of C minor. The scherzo, for example, is a light-footed piece that bespeaks American rather than Germanic roots, though Foote was schooled after the best German models by America's first important symphonist, John Knowles Paine.

The Trio No. 2, likewise, is an entertaining amalgam of Germanic and American music making. The bumptious melody of the first movement, with its dotted rhythms, is clearly an American invention, but the sweeping romanticism of the whole also recalls the young Richard Strauss of the chamber music phase, as does the restless first melody of the finale. But whatever its provenance, what a lovely melody the second one, introduced by the piano, is! The coda memorably recalls the dotted rhythms of the first movement. This is a more assured and confident work than the First Trio and one that should be in the repertory of just about every American piano trio.

The melody and ballade are nice works, too, if much less meaty.

The three players involved do this ravishing music proud, and be assured that the sound here is all one could hope for: intimate yet open and airy, with great truthfulness. Certainly this CD is one of finest, if not the finest, chamber music entries in Naxos' American Classics series.

Beautiful, intimate, pieces. Excellent performances........2002-02-26

I have all 3 volumes of Arthur Foote's chamber music on Naxos, and consider all three to be wonderful, but this disc is the best of the three.
Foote's music was not groundbreaking, radical or new, but what he did, he did well. The result, classical music that will delight people who want a classical music experience, but might leave a few cold-hearted modernists bored. For the rest of us, from start to finish this is a delightful disc.
The performances are imeccable, and the recording is clear. At the bargain price it is an absolute steal.

Beautiful, intimate, pieces. Excellent performances........2002-02-26

Average customer rating:

American takes us to Europe

Arthur Foote: Chamber Music, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Arthur Foote: Piano Quartet; String Quartet No. 1; Nocturne and Scherzo
Foote: Chamber Music, Vol. 3
Rorem: Double Concerto for Violin and Cello; After Reading Shakespeare
Charles Griffes: The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan/The White Peacock/Three Poems of Fiona McLeod
Great Recordings Of The Century - Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms: Double Concerto / Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Richter

ASIN: B00000DHTD
Release Date: 1998-10-27

Tracks:

Piano Quintet In A Minor, Op. 38: Allegro giusto: appassionato
Piano Quintet In A Minor, Op. 38: Allegretto -Trio: Molto piu allegro
Piano Quintet In A Minor, Op. 38: Scherzo: Vivace - Trio: Un poco meno mosso
Piano Quintet In A Minor, Op. 38: Allegro giusto
String Quartet No. 2 In E Major, Op. 32: Allegro giocoso
String Quartet No. 2 In E Major, Op. 32: Scherzo: Vivace - Trio: Piu vivace
Tema con variazioni: Andante espressivo, ma con moto - Var 1: L'istesso tempo - Var. 2: Allegro marcato: alla Tarantella - Var. 3: Tranquillo, ma con moto - Var. 4: Maetoso, alla Marcia - Var. 5: Vivace - Var. 6: Allegro assai: molto marcato
String Quartet No. 2 In E Major, Op. 32: Allegro Assai
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, Op. 70: Allegro
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, Op. 70: Scherzo: Capriccioso
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, Op. 70: Andante espressivo
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major, Op. 70: Andante espressivo - Allegro non troppo, marcato

Amazon.com

Arthur Foote (1853-1937) was not a prolific composer; his work nevertheless places him on the fringes of the American music repertoire. Naxos's box mentions several romantic composers Foote reminds us of, leaving out some others whose names come to mind during the Second Quartet (especially Schubert, who seems to inhabit the variations movement). None of this music sounds very original, although the last quartet seems further to develop some of Reger's relentless chromaticism. Probably the best piece is the Piano Quintet, in which fervent playing from Barbagallo (this is his last recording) helps drive the music. The Da Vinci Quartet plays very well, and this is certainly an economical way to explore a corner of the repertory. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

American takes us to Europe.......2006-01-12

To be honest, I really could care less that Arthur Foote "borrowed" his sound from Brahms, Dvorak, Shumann and Mendelssohn. It's just refreshing to hear music that "sounds" like something I already know, but yet is unfamiliar because it really isn't from any of the aforementioned composers. The recording which pairs the Da Vinci Quartet with an excellent pianist is wonderful!