HEINRICH WILHELM ERNST (1814-1865): for String Quartet and Double Bass: Fantaisie Brillante sur la Marche et la Romance de l'Opera Otello de Rossini, Op. 11, Rondino grazioso, Op. 13, Morceau de Salon, Op. 13/1, La Romanesca, Elegie for String Quartet, Op. 10, String Quartet in B, for Violin and Piano: 2 Nocturnes, Op. 8, Feuillet d'Album, 14 Penées fugitives, Morceaux de Salon, Op. 25, Nos. 1-3, 2 Romances, Op. 15, Pré aux Clercs - Grand Duo par Ernst et Schunke, HENRI WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880): Rêverie for Viola and Piano.

Description: The ensemble works are actually for solo violin with string trio and bass accompaniments in modern arrangements after Ernst's own practice of substituting piano or orchestra accompaniment with solo strings. These are generally violin display pieces while the string quartet, a four-movement work of 26 minutes (also in Vol. 4 of Toccata Classics' Ernst series) shows Ernst capably handling thematic-motivic working, harmony and counterpoint just like a "real composer". Only a few of the items here are not in the Toccata Classics series but the difference in accompaniment of several made us offer this disc. 2 CDs. Thomas Christian (violin), Thomas Christian Ensemble.