The Quartet in E♭ for Piano and Winds by Franz Berwald (1796-1868) was written during a period and in a country that is under-represented in the clarinet literature. Composed for the unusual ensemble of clarinet, horn, bassoon, and piano, the work was written in 1819 and premiered in 1821. The quartet is an attractive piece in its own right, and provides an opportunity to explore the artistic atmosphere in Stockholm in the early nineteenth century, particularly as it applies to wind playing. Research for this document has revealed that three prominent wind instrumentalists, Bernard Henrik Crusell, Frans Carl Preumayr, and Johann Michael Hirschfeld, were the inspiration for this work as well as for works by other composers at this time. The document also explores Swedish history from roughly the period 1771 1872, highlighting the reign of Gustav III (1771-1792), with a special emphasis on its patronage of the arts.
Franz Berwald is considered Swedens best Romantic composer, although he has not reached the stature of the other well-known Scandinavian Romantic composers Grieg, Sibelius, and Nielsen. This document examines Berwald’s life and the social climate in which he lived in an attempt to achieve a better understanding of the circumstances that may have led to his relative obscurity. The majority of the literature on Franz Berwald is written in either German or Swedish. This document augments the English portion of Berwald research. It includes in its appendices several English translations from Franz Berwalds letters and other writings. The appendices also contain a family tree of the musical Berwald family.
Included in the document is an analysis of the Quartet in Eb for Piano and Winds. The analysis explores Berwald’s compositional style as it pertains to form, melodic development and orchestration. A live recording of a 2004 performance of the Quartet at The Ohio State University is available with the pdf file.