Englund described his Piano Quintet as an individual mixture of Franck, Reger, Brahms, and Ravel, but ultimately his own unique 'cocktail'.
Performer Biography
The Sinfonia Lahti Chamber Ensemble (SLCE) was founded in 1986 to offer audiences musical experiences beyond the norm, ranging from baroque to contemporary music.
Historical Context
The shadow of war, specifically the Winter War, influenced Englund's Piano Quintet, with elegiac moods in the slow movement dedicated to his brother who died in the war.
Composer Biography
Englund experienced a profound artistic crisis in the 1960s, falling silent as a composer due to new modernist trends and the tragic death of his first wife.
Composition History
Englund composed his Piano Quintet in early 1941 as his diploma work at the Sibelius Academy, and his teacher, Bengt Carlson, recognized its exceptional quality.
Composer Biography
Einar Englund, the composer, once visited Jean Sibelius, a renowned Finnish composer, uninvited, and Sibelius recognized him and welcomed him warmly.
Critical Reception
Jean Sibelius praised Englund's Piano Quintet, calling it his best work to date and the first milestone in his career.
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