Anna Barbara Dütschler, Marc Pantillon - Romantic Viola Music (2002)

The large repertoire of works for the viola is due primarily to the efforts of German composers from the Romantic period. Hummel and Weber, for example, reserved for the viola a special place in their compositions, and Schumann dedicated the four pieces of his Marchenbilder to this instrument. Also worthy of mention are Max Bruch's double concerto and his Pieces for clarinet, viola and piano. Brahms himself authorized the transcription for viola of his two clarinet sonatas. The composers recorded here are less well known than those just mentioned, but they were adherents to similar credos. The majority belonged to Brahms' circle, traditionalists, avowed anti-Wagnerians, musicians dedicated to chamber music. Joseph Joachim was one of the greatest violinists of his time and one of Brahms' closest friends. Friedrich Kiel was a member of the Academy of Arts in Berlin and made important contributions to the revitalization of German sacred music. Heinrich von Herzogenberg was another intimate friend of Brahms. Together with Philip Spitta he founded the Bachverein. Heinrich XXIV Prinz Reuss was a student of Herzogenberg who abandoned a promising law career for music. Hendrik Andriessen is the only composer on this recording who is not directly connected to Brahms and his circle. His music represents a synthesis of French and German influences.