For listeners who wish there were more pieces in the world like
Brahms' Horn Trio, this is the disc is for you. Called Carl Reinecke and Friends: Chamber Music of the Romantic Era, it delivers four very tasty pieces of nineteenth century German chamber music featuring either horn or clarinet or both. And while neither Carl Reinecke nor Norbert Burgmüller are household names among even the most knowledgeable listeners, their works on this disc are almost but not quite in the same league as
Robert Schumann and
Felix Mendelssohn. Reinecke's Trio for clarinet, horn, and piano is a warmly evocative work. Burgmüller's Duo for clarinet and piano is a sweetly lyrical work, and, although the harmonies are richer in
Schumann's Three Romances for horn and piano and the melodies are more memorable in
Mendelssohn's three pieces for clarinet, horn, and piano, all four works on this disc taken together form a wonderfully coherent program. The playing is entirely first-rate. Clarinetist
James Campbell has a round tone and a supple technique. Hornist
James Sommerville has a heroic tone and a graceful technique. Both pianists, Rena Sharon in the Reinecke and
Stéphan Sylvestre in everything else, are more than capable accompanist with the big, rich keyboard sound that the music demands. Marquis' sound is clear and deep.