Piano Quartet,
\nQuartet for Oboe Violin and Piano,
\nPiano Trio No 3 in C,
\nDuo No 2 for Violin and Cello

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Commemorating 50 years since Martinu’s death, the Birmingham\nConservatoire’s Ensemble-in-Residence, The Schubert Ensemble,\ntogether with the Conservatoire’s Principal, George Caird, perform\na varied programme by this prolific Czech composer, who spent much\nof his life in exile.

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The recording illustrates both his versatility and his\nfantastically colourful musical language, and culminates in the\nexhilarating piano quartet, which is considered to be one of\nMartinu’s finest chamber compositions from his American years. It\nwas immediately after completing this work that Martinu embarked\nupon writing the first of his six substantial symphonies, major\ncontributions to the symphonic legacy of the first half of the\ntwentieth century. Two of the other works on this disc were also\nwritten in his during his stay in America – Piano Trio No.3, and\nQuartet for oboe, violin and piano. Duo No.2 in D for violin and\nvioloncello completes the programme.

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After 26 years at the forefront of British chamber music, the\nSchubert Ensemble is firmly established as one of the world’s\nleading exponents of chamber music for piano and strings.

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