by Layne Anspach
Hello musicians!
Joachim Nicolas Eggert (1779-1813) was a Swedish composer and conductor, born in Gingst, Rügen, which is now part of Germany. Eggert started his formal musical studies in Stralsund and Brunswick; he held his first music director post in Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1802. Shortly after, he left for Sweden as he took a position in the Royal Court Orchestra, first as a violinist (1803-07), then as the hovkapellmästare (chief conductor; 1808-12). Eggert’s health deteriorated during the winter of 1813 and, shortly thereafter, he died at the age of 34.
Eggert focused most of his chamber writing on string music: a string sextet, a piano quartet, and at least twelve string quartets. He also wrote a sextet for clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello, and bass, which will be our focus. It is hypothesized that the work was inspired by Beethoven’s Septet, op. 20, as the septet was quite popular in Stockholm during this time. The work was to be performed on a concert in May 1807 but was not performed when some of the musicians became ill.
Written in a sonata form, the first movement, Adagio - Allegro, begins with the lowest strings in a somber, slow introduction. The horn then interjects the first theme, and a second theme is presented by the clarinet and violin. The development is melodically carried by the clarinet and violin while being pushed forward by the low strings. The recapitulation is marked, as expected, by the return of the first theme. In a change from the exposition, the horn and violin play the second theme, with the clarinet eventually taking over from the horn.
The second movement, Adagio, begins, in a similar fashion to the first, with the low strings. The clarinet emerges with the melody, periodically relinquishing the role to others as the movement progresses, but always regaining it. In the closing, the horn is heard with a countermelody as the clarinet brings the movement to a gentle conclusion.
The Menuetto follows the compound ternary form typical of a minuet and trio. The menuetto starts, yet again, with the low strings, but it is quickly spurred on by the clarinet and violin, either in tandem or in turn. The trio is characterized by a lighter, quieter character. The violin and clarinet alternate two-note figures while the horn plays a running passage. The trio continues with the three top voices carrying the melodic content before the da capo.
The Finale is a light and quick concluding movement. Interspersed with fermati which allow the movement to restart at regular intervals, the clarinet and violin present the vast majority of the melodic content. Sprightly passages jolt additional excitement into the movement, which concludes in a familiar classical style.
The reference recording is by the Consortium Classicum.
