Obscure Music Monday: Menter's Consolation

Sophie Menter (July 29, 1846 - Feb. 23, 1918) was a German pianist and composer, born to musical parents. At the age of fifteen she soloed with an orchestra, and her concertizing after that took her all around Germany and Switzerland. Menter would go on to be known for her interpretations of Franz Liszt's compositions, and she actually studied with him in 1869, after studying with other famous pianists like Carl Tausig and Hans von Bulow. Liszt described her as "my only piano daughter", and her playing was loved by critics and audience members alike. She became professor of piano at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1883, but left just three years after to continue concertizing. She also started composing for piano, but considered her compositional talent "miserable".

She was obviously quite harsh on herself; in truth, her compositions are outstanding, Consolation being no exception. The descending chromatic theme that opens the work has a sense of swagger and the piece feels wonderfully carefree. There are some fantastic runs and fancy finger work, but nothing overshadows the main thematic material or the atmosphere it creates. Listening to this will give you a good idea why Liszt and critics adored her writing!