Reinhold Moritzevich Glière (Russian: Рейнгольд Морицевич Глиэр, Ukrainian: Ре́йнгольд Мо́ріцевич Гліер / Reingol'd Moritsevich Glier; born Reinhold Ernest Glier, which was later converted for standardization purposes; 11 January 1875 [O.S. 30 December 1874] - 23 June 1956), was a composer in the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, of German and Polish descent.
String Sextet No. 3 in C major, Op. 11 (1905)
Dedication: à la mémoire de M. P. Belaieff (Mitrofan Belyayev, 1836-1904)
1. Allegro
2. Larghetto (9:05)
3. Allegro (15:11)
4. Allegro vivace (21:14)
Berlin Philharmonic String Octet
String Sextet No.3 in C Major, Op.11 dates from 1905. Wilhelm Altmann, perhaps the most famous chamber music critic of all, writes of it:
"This magnificent work is packed with a treasure chest of wonderful musical ideas. The writing is so powerful it approaches the orchestral in nature. It is a work with which every friend of chamber music should become familiar."
The joyful themes to the opening Allegro are inspired by Russian folk melody and reminiscent of the tonal coloring of Borodin. The lyrical, elegiac and emotionally charged second movement, Larghetto, is a real showcase of Gliere's mastery as the singing quality of the strings approaches that of the human voice. The third movement, Allegro, is a very Russian scherzo. with songful melodies alternating with dance episodes which become faster each time they reappear. The superb finale, Allegro vivace, begins in a festive fashion. It is here in particular that the brilliance and richness of the tone Gliere elicits approaches the orchestral in its intensity.