Woodwind Quintet Op. 79 by AUGUST KLUGHARDT (Germany, 1847 – 1902)

[#307] June 09, 2025 1898 | Grade 5 | 20’ – 25’ | Chamber Music

Woodwind Quintet Op.79 by Germany composer, conductor, and pianist August Klughardt is our Composition of the Week.

The Woodwind Quintet was composed around 1898 and published in 1901. It has an overall duration of 23 minutes, and it is structured in four movements:

I. Allegro non troppo: A slow and mysterious introduction, followed by a lively and playful allegro, featuring interludes and recurring themes.

II. Allegro vivace: A brisk and rapid scherzo, using dotted rhythms, with a trio in a minor key.

III. Andante grazioso: A stately minuet, gentle and melodious, highlighting the romantic texture with rich melodies.

IV. Adagio – Allegro molto vivace: A slow introduction with long solo lines, followed by an energetic and joyful allegro, bringing the piece to a dynamic conclusion.

August Klughart’s music was influenced by Wagner, Liszt, Schumann, and Brahms, while maintaining a more conservative approach, avoiding symphonic poems in favor of chamber music and symphonies. His style is characterized by warm harmonies, skillful writing for each instrument, and a touch of natural humor. Among his legacy, we count 5 symphonies, 4 operas as well as chamber and vocal music.

August (Friedrich Martin) Klughard was born in 1847 in Köthen, Germany. He took his first piano and music theory lessons at the age of 10. Soon he began to compose his first pieces, which were performed by a music circle Klughardt had founded himself at school. In 1863, his family moved to Dessau. One year later, he gave his debut as pianist.

After having finished school, he moved to Dresden in 1866. There, he took further lessons and brought his compositions to the public for the first time. One year later, he began to earn his living as a conductor. At first, he worked at the municipal theatre in Posen (Poznań) for one season, then in Neustrelitz for one season, and finally in Lübeck for several months. From 1869 to 1873, he worked at the court theatre in Weimar. There, he met Franz Liszt, which was very important for his creative development. In 1873, he returned to Neustrelitz where he became chief conductor. He was appointed manager in 1880. In 1876, he visited the first Bayreuth Festival.

From 1882 to the end of his life, he was director of music at the court in Dessau. In 1892 and 1893, he conducted Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. He received many distinctions in his last years: he was appointed member of the Berlin Academy of Arts in 1898 and he was made honorary doctor by the University of Erlangen. He was also asked to direct the Singakademie in Berlin, but he rejected this offer. Klughardt died suddenly in Roßlau at the age of 54.