Ferdinand Ries - Septet, Op. 25 (1808)

Ferdinand Ries (28 November 1784 [baptised] – 13 January 1838) was a German composer. Ries was a friend, pupil and secretary of Ludwig van Beethoven. He composed eight symphonies, a violin concerto, eight piano concertos, three operas, and numerous other works in many genres, including 26 string quartets. In 1838 he published a collection of reminiscences of his teacher Beethoven, co-written with Franz Wegeler. The symphonies, some chamber works —most of them with piano— his violin concerto and his piano concertos have been recorded, demonstrating a style which is, unsurprising due to his connection to Beethoven, somewhere between those of the Classical and early Romantic eras. Ferdinand Ries was not only a virtuoso pianist but also an excellent violinist and cellist. His father was his violin teacher and Bernhard Romberg was his cello teacher. Composition he studied with Johann Albrechtsberger, which meant extensive study in harmony and counterpoint something Beethoven had no time for to teach. Please support my channel: Quintet or Septet in E-flat major, Op. 25. Paris, 1808 Dedication: composé et dédié à Mr le Comte Rasamovsky I. Adagio molto — Allegro molto con brio (0:00) II. Marcia funèbre (10:02) III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace (20:41) IV. Rondo. Allegro (25:47) Linos Ensemble Septet: clarinet (B♭), 2 horns (E♭/C), violin, cello, contrabass, piano Ries dedicated his Op. 25 to Count Razumovsky (Andrey Kirillovich Razumovsky) The Count was a great admirer of Beethoven as such Ries must have known him also very well. His support for Beethoven starts as early as his first publication (1795), the Piano Trios Op.1., where he was one of the first subscribers. Their most famous cooperation is the Razumovsky Quartets (.). Important part of the commission agreement was that all three compositions must have Russian folk themes, something Beethoven honored. 1806 was exceptionally fruitful for the composer and as such he finished all three string quartets (and many other significant pieces) between April and November. In 1808 he established his own string quartet, including the famous Viennese violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh. He himself was a fair violin and a good torban player. As a violinist he was tutored by Haydn himself and often sat in as second violinist in house concerts. 1808 is also the date of Ries’ Quintet or Septet. I assume that that is not a coincidence meaning that the work very probably was written for one of those house concerts.