Piano Quartet (1942)
Quartet for oboe, violin and piano
Piano Trio No 3 in C
Duo No 2 for violin and cello

Commemorating 50 years since Martinů’s death, the Birmingham Conservatoire’s Ensemble-in-

Residence, The Schubert Ensemble, together with the Conservatoire’s Principal, George Caird, perform a

varied programme by this prolific Czech composer, who spent much of his life in exile.

The recording illustrates both his versatility and his fantastically colourful musical language, and

culminates in the exhilarating piano quartet, which is considered to be one of Martinu’s finest chamber

compositions from his American years. It was immediately after completing this work that Martinu

embarked upon writing the first of his six substantial symphonies, major contributions to the symphonic

legacy of the first half of the twentieth century. Two of the other works on this disc were also written in

his during his stay in America – Piano Trio No.3, and Quartet for oboe, violin and piano. Duo No.2 in D

for violin and violoncello completes the programme.

After 26 years at the forefront of British chamber music, the Schubert Ensemble is firmly established as

one of the world’s leading exponents of chamber music for piano and strings.