Slow Listening #4
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Piano Quintet (1893)
Unbelievably, Coleridge-Taylor wrote this piece when he was eighteen, and still a student at the Royal College of Music in London. Perhaps that’s why it feels so fresh and vital — every theme is concise, not a single note is superfluous.
I think one of the reasons I love this piece so much is because it sounds so full of promise. We’re hearing a composer at the start of their journey, full of ideas and optimism and energy. It’s individual, it’s powerful, and it’s uncompromising.
The quintet was first performed in 1893 in Croydon, in a concert entirely dedicated to Coleridge-Taylor’s works, with the composer himself at the piano. He would go on to become one of the most famous and celebrated composers of the late Victorian period. But this quintet vanished into obscurity, and remained unperformed for over a century after its premiere. Thank goodness for violinist Martin Anthony Burrage who dug the manuscript out and gave the quintet its modern premiere in 2001, allowing us to enjoy this incredible piece.
The quintet is in four movements:
Allegro con moto (Fast, with movement)
Larghetto (Somewhat slow)
Scherzo (Joking)
Allegro molto (Very fast)
Listening Prompt
Channelling that energy of discovery and ambition, today’s prompts are:
What kind of journey does this piece make you imagine?
What would you do if you thought you couldn’t fail?
Recommended Recording
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Nonet, Piano Trio and Piano Quintet
The brilliant Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective’s rendition is hands down my favourite recording of this quintet.
If you’re curious, you can check out the autograph manuscript on IMSLP, in Coleridge-Taylor’s own handwriting. As ever, I’d love to know your thoughts on pieces and suggestions for future recommendations in the comments.