Franz and Ignaz Lachner - Last Defender of Classical String Quartet

The history of classical music did not even blinked to the present of one family of composer / conductor once lived in Rain am Lech, a town in Bavarian territory near Danube Lake. It was the Lachner family, whom get the greatest fame by three brothers, Franz Lachner, Ignaz and the youngest Vincent Lachner. They were children of Anton Lachner. The father, Anton, was an organist to local church and repair clock and watch as part of living. The timeline was between 1756, the year Anton Lachner born (then die in 1820) up to year 1895 where Ignaz passed away. Story continued, Anton Lachner (1756-1820)  was very poor. To your information, he not only has three talented children, but a total of , yes, eighteen children. These are from his two marriages, just to clarify. The house in Rain, described as a 'hut' rather than a house by Ignaz in later date. The house did not has a basement and when the rain poured it was a total mess and smelly. Papa Anton teach music to all his children with discipline. They were poor but managed to learn musical instruments without even have the instruments. No piano in the living room. Papa Anton painted the bench with black and white to symbolized piano tuts. Thus the children will able to learn the fingering. In the weekend Papa will bring them to 'test' their skill in real organ, whom the children can't wait their turn.

This touching story came with happy ending. One of oldest children, Franz Lachner (2 April 1803 – 20 January 1890) is the top alumni. Success begin when he was getting an audition for an organist in Lutheran church in Vienna, then get the job, even Franz was a Catholic. This good job landed him good circle of musician friends in Vienna. Franz Schubert as example, will continue become Franz's closed friend. They will discussed music together, exchanging idea in composition and performing together in the morning. Franz Lachner later success landed a job as conductor for Kapellmeister in Mainnheim and later peak in Munich. He will be there for another thirty years before the rise of Wagnerism and Modern German diminished his work. Franz Lachner composed a lot of works mainly in the tradition of German / Vienna Classical greats, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert. The rise of Modern German was the reason for the neglected of Lachner family works, as written in essay found in booklet and internet. Once a time, modern guy Hans von Bullow conducted Beethoven in his modern style of conducting and then asked Franz for opinion. "Well, mr Lachner did the orchestra performed beautifully this evening, don't you think?" in which Franz promptly replied, "Of course, this that I directed for thirty damn years cannot possibly destroyed in the two months that you have been working with it". von Bullow was the successor to Franz later and succesfully succession the musical landscape of German with modernist. Making Lachner family works unperformed completely.

Robert Schumann made him the most talented and knowledged composer in the Southern area. Tchaikovsky reviewed some of his work and expressed similar admiration. When asked to Franz, "Are you an adherent to Brahms or Wagner?" The maestro said "I am neither, I am myself!".

Franz Lachner composed at least seven string quartet. One not published,  but the other six was in printed. Today the Rodin Quartet help us resurrected the pieces in a well recorded three volume of Franz Lachner string quartets, as well as four volumes of Ignaz Lachner's. Three quartets Op.75,76,77 was published in 1843 while the other three followed up six years later in 1849. There is one quartet in E flat written in Vienna 1829 unpublished.

I most favorite the quartet in B minor op.75. The whole pieces set in minor key produced beautiful melody. The connection between movement and repeated theme make this quartet a memorable piece. Then the elegant Quartet in G op.169 also a strong one. Third movement the Largo is very elegant with epic opening theme.

Franz Lachner String Quartet - Rodin Quartet - Volume 1 - BUY AT AMAZON
01. String Quartet Em op. 173 : I. Allegro moderato [08:12]
02. String Quartet Em op. 173 : II. Adagio non troppo [06:58]
03. String Quartet Em op. 173 : III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace [05:07]
04. String Quartet Em op. 173 : IV. Finale. Allegretto [11:21]
05. String Quartet G op. 169 : I. Allegretto [08:52]
06. String Quartet G op. 169 : II. Menuetto. Allegro assai [06:47]
07. String Quartet G op. 169 : III. Largo [07:52]
08. String Quartet G op. 169 : IV. Finale. Allegro vivavce [06:55]

Franz Lachner String Quartet - Rodin Quartet - Volume 2 - BUY AT AMAZON
01. String Quartet in D minor, op.120 - I. Adagio - Allegro non troppo [11:06]
02. String Quartet in D minor, op.120 - II. Andante quasi Adagio [06:38]
03. String Quartet in D minor, op.120 - III. Scherzo. Allegro assai [04:10]
04. String Quartet in D minor, op.120 - IV. Finale. Allegro agitato [07:25]
05. String Quartet in A major, op.76 - I. Allegro [09:55]
06. String Quartet in A major, op.76 - II. Adagio [07:21]
07. String Quartet in A major, op.76 - III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace [04:56]
08. String Quartet in A major, op.76 - IV. Allegro [07:42]

Franz Lachner String Quartet - Rodin Quartet - Volume 3 - BUY AT AMAZON
01. String Quartet in B minor, op.75 - I. Allegro moderato [10:44]
02. String Quartet in B minor, op.75 - II. Adagio quasi Andante [08:37]
03. String Quartet in B minor, op.75 - III. Scherzo. Allegro assai [04:27]
04. String Quartet in B minor, op.75 - IV. Finale. Allegro agitato [06:03]
05. String Quartet in E flat major, op.77 - I. Allegretto [11:22]
06. String Quartet in E flat major, op.77 - II. Minuetto. Allegretto [04:01]
07. String Quartet in E flat major, op.77 - III. Andante [08:08]
08. String Quartet in E flat major, op.77 - IV. Allegro vivace [09:18]

Ignaz Lachner (September 11, 1807 – February 24, 1895) career in music was rather easier after his brother Franz pioneer the path in the musical capital Vienna. Ignaz was better in violin. He was a prodigy but Papa Anton wanted him to be a teacher and public servant, thus sending him to Grammar school. Ignaz would later not able to hold his desired to become professional and abandoned school in its four year. After the old man passed away, Ignaz will taking violin to the local virtuoso, none other than Bernard Molique (whom composed a number of string quartets as well.) In Vienna, with Franz introduction, Ignaz become friends with Abbe Stadler, Gyrowetz and Weigl. He also friend with the maestro Schubert, although not as close as his brother. Ignaz autobiography described his music career as " In 1827 I was hired as a viola player at the orchestra of the Royal Opera Theater, and in the autumn of 1829 I was made second conductor at the same theater, and in 1830 I was appointed first conductor, a position I held until September 1831". He was also substitute to his brother Franz post as organist in Lutheran Church. He then as Court Music Director at the Royal Theater of Wurttemberg in Stuttgart and peak perhaps as conductor of theater at Hamburg (1853-1858).

Ignaz  was slightly productive in term of string quartet writting. He composed seven standard string quartets, as well two string quartet with different instrument: in C for 3 violins and viola, then in G for 4 violins. His works are more later Romantic feel than his brother's. But still the majority fall into Classicism. Thus making these set of quartets again a neglected piece for hundred year, made by his music oppositions.

Ignaz Lachner String Quartet - Rodin Quartet - Volume 1 - BUY AT AMAZON
01. String Quartet in A, Op. 74 - I [12:23]
02. String Quartet in A, Op. 74 - II [12:27]
03. String Quartet in A, Op. 74 - III [03:36]
04. String Quartet in A, Op. 74 - IV [05:13]
05. String Quartet in Bb, Op. posth - I [07:30]
06. String Quartet in Bb, Op. posth - II [04:19]
07. String Quartet in Bb, Op. posth - III [06:23]
08. String Quartet in Bb, Op. posth - IV [06:53]

Ignaz Lachner String Quartet - Rodin Quartet - Volume 2 - BUY AT AMAZON
01. String Quartet in F, Op. 43 - I [10:36]
02. String Quartet in F, Op. 43 - II [11:45]
03. String Quartet in F, Op. 43 - III [05:47]
04. String Quartet in F, Op. 43 - IV [10:01]
05. String Quartet in Am, Op. 105 - I [06:08]
06. String Quartet in Am, Op. 105 - II [04:03]
07. String Quartet in Am, Op. 105 - III [02:18]
08. String Quartet in Am, Op. 105 - IV [04:11]

Ignaz Lachner String Quartet - Rodin Quartet - Volume 3 - BUY AT AMAZON
01. String Quartet C op. 54 - 1. Allegro moderato [10:37]
02. String Quartet C op. 54 - 2. Andantino [09:15]
03. String Quartet C op. 54 - 3. Scherzo. Presto [04:13]
04. String Quartet C op. 54 - 4. Allegretto quasi Andantino [12:18]
05. String Quartet G op. 104 - 1. Allegro ma non troppo [05:13]
06. String Quartet G op. 104 - 2. Andante grave [05:39]
07. String Quartet G op. 104 - 3. Allegro vivace [03:14]
08. String Quartet G op. 104 - 4. Allegro vivace [03:14]

Ignaz Lachner String Quartet - Rodin Quartet - Volume 4 - BUY AT AMAZON01. String Quartet in G major op.51 - I. Allegro moderato [16:55]
02. String Quartet in G major op.51 - II. Andante con moto [12:31]
03. String Quartet in G major op.51 - III. Scherzo. Presto [06:43]
04. String Quartet in G major op.51 - IV. Finale. Allegro vivace [12:13]
05. String Trio "Die gute alte Zeit" op.77 - I. Maestoso quasi Andantino [03:07]
06. String Trio "Die gute alte Zeit" op.77 - II. Andantino [03:30]
07. String Trio "Die gute alte Zeit" op.77 - III. Allegro giocoso [01:33]

Of the other brother and sister were, Vincent Lachner (19 July 1811 – 22 January 1893). He wrote two string quartets. The three of them can surely described as last defender of Classical era string quartet in the 19th century.

Vinzenz Lachner String Quartet - Rodin Quartet - BUY AT AMAZON
String Quartet in E flat Op.27 - I. Allegro
String Quartet in E flat Op.27 - II. Andantino
String Quartet in E flat Op.27 - III. Scherzo Allegro assai
String Quartet in E flat Op.27 - IV. Finale. Allegro gioioso
String Quartet in Dm Op. 36 - I. Allegro
String Quartet in Dm Op. 36 - II. Andante
String Quartet in Dm Op. 36 - III. Menuetto
String Quartet in Dm Op. 36 - IV. Finale. Allegro vivace

The other children that manage to become professional musician from the Lachner dynasty were : Theodore Lachner (1795-1877) an organist at two churches and assistant to the director of rehearsals at the royal theater. Thekla Lachner (1801-1869) organist at two churches, Christina Lachner (1805-1858) also an organist.

sources: the CD booklets and internet researches.

    

the Lachner string quartets - recorded by Rodin String Quartet