Don Satz wrote:

>I noticed that CPO will soon be releasing a disc of chamber music by
>Heinrich von Herzogenberg including a piano quartet and string trio.  My
>memory isn't strong on this one, but I do recall an earlier CPO release
>of a sacred choral work by Herzogenberg.  I assume it's the same composer,
>at least for now.

That's the one.  What appears to be on this new disc, and at mid-price
to boot, is the Piano Quartet Op. 95, the String Trio Op. 27, and two
Legends Op. 62 and as far as I know these are first recordings on CD for
these pieces.  It also appears that it will be at least two weeks before
this disc is available from US sources.

>I would appreciate any comments on the quality of Herzogenberg's music,
>particularly his chamber music.  My memory also recalls that Herzogenberg
>was a contemporary of Brahms.

There's not been much to go by.  He and Brahms were lifelong friends.  He
taught master classes in composition for the better part of two decades
at the Hochschule fur Musik in Berlin, his tenure being sandwiched between
those of Friedrich Kiel and Woldemar Bargiel.  Prior to this release, the
only chamber works on CD by Herzogenberg were the Quintet in E Flat Major
for Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn & Bassoon, Op. 43 (1888), the Trio in D
Major for Oboe, Horn & Piano, Op. 61 (1889), and the Quartet in E minor
for Piano & Strings, Op. 75 (1892).  If he can be said to have had a
success in modern times, it is with the Horn Trio Op. 61 which has been
recorded several times, even by Naxos, coupled with trios from Brahms and
Duvernois:

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000013RM/classicalnetA/

I first came to know the Horn Trio through a now-deleted Claves
release (CD50-803) coupled with the horn trio by Reinecke, played by
Barry Tuckwell, and what I heard made me very curious to hear more of
Herzogenberg.  But I had to wait quite a while until four years ago when
the label Classic Talent released an all-Herzogenberg disc (DOM291023) with
the Horn Trio again, but also with the Quintet for Piano & Winds and the
Piano Quartet with Andre De Groote on piano.  Details of this disc can be
found here:

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002K4J/classicalnetA/

I've enjoyed his chamber music greatly.  He was no pioneer or
revolutionary, so his music can be characterized as derivative, but
this doesn't typically bother me.  I would generally recommend his music
to anyone who finds music from the less well-known late romantics of
interest, such as works by Reinecke, Kiel, Rheinberger, Scharwenka, Fuchs,
and Bargiel for instance.  There's an additional piano quartet, five string
quartets, two piano trios, and another string trio, not to mention three
symphonies, so here's hoping they decide to do a few more discs.

Dave
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