Norbert Burgmüller composed between 1825 and 1836 nearly fifty works. His orchestral works comprise two Symphonies (c minor op.2 and D major op.11), a Piano Concerto (f sharp minor op.1), an Overture (f minor op.5) and four Entr’Actes for small orchestra (op.17). Among his chamber music are four String Quartets (d minor op.4 and op.7, A flat major op.9 and a minor op.14), a Duo for Clarinet and Piano (E flat major op.15) and a Ständchen (Serenade) for Clarinet, Viola and Gitarre. The piano music is represented by a Sonata (f minor op.8), a Rhapsody (b minor op.13), a Polonaise (F major op.16) and a Waltz (E flat major, WoO). His vocal music is now partly lost (one song, several shorter pieces for male choir, a cantata, a Psalm and an Opera Fragment “Dionys”) but nearly two dozens of Songs (mainly published in four volumes opp. 3, 6 10 and 12) have survived. The above mentioned opera numbers are misleading concerning chronology.

Burgmüllers early works show great promise, although they are partly influenced by Beethoven and Spohr. In his mature pieces, Burgmüller reaches quite a personal style which sometimes resembles Schubert, of whose works he knew next to nothing. At his best moments, he forshadows a later Schumann and even Brahms. His music combines melodies which long linger in the memory, with a highly individual harmonic language and original formal solutions.

Selected Discography

• Orchestral Works / Musikproduktion Dabringhaus & Grimm MDG 335 0817-2
• Piano Sonata / Genesis GCD 108
• Clarinet Duo / ASV DCA 732
• Songs / Musikproduktion Dabringhaus & Grimm MDG L 3244