MIKHAIL GLINKA (1804-1857): Septet in E Flat for Oboe, Bassoon, Horn, 2 Violins, Cello and Double Bass, Trio pathétique in D Minor for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano, Serenata sopra alcuni motivi dell'opera Anna Bolena for Piano, Bassoon, Harp, Horn, Violin, Cello and Double Bass, 3 Russian Songs (arr. piano trio Eduard Herrmann [1850-1937]).

Description: The four-movement, 25-minute septet of 1829 is viewable as a symphony in chamber scoring, its form modelled on Viennese Classicism but its content already deriving from Russian folk melodies in a foreshadowing of Glinka’s mature style. It, and the 20-minute Serenata of 1832, whose themes are manifestly not Russian, are otherwise only available on the Alto label which no longer has U.S. distribution. Consortium Classicum.