Ludwig Thuille was born in Bozen, Tyrol in the western part of Austria now known as Bolzano, Italy. Although he was left orphaned when his father passed away in 1876, his education was secured by a wealthy widow of the composer and conductor Mathius Nagiller. This education allowed him to meet and work with Richard Strauss, who became his good friend. Strauss even dedicated his tone poem, Don Juan, to Thuille. Thuille was part of the “Munich School” of composers, which included Max Schillings and Strauss whom were a significant part of the cultural life in Munich.

Although he composed many operas, concert music and chamber music, Thuille really had his heart set on teaching. He taught theory and composition at the Königliche Musikschule in Munich. He also collaborated with Louis Rudolph to write a harmony textbook known as the Harmonielehre (1902) which was a standard textbook even after his death.

The Sextet, Op. 6, was written between 1885 and 1887 and is considered one of his best known works. The piece was premiered at the Wiesbaden Festival in 1889 with Thuille playing the demanding piano part himself. Since the piece turned out to be a success, Strauss suggested that he should submit it for the prestigious Beethoven Award for Composition in Vienna in 1901. Although he did not win the award the sextet was still highly recognized for its virtuosity and brilliance.

This piece is very romantic in style with a Brahmsian flare especially in the keyboard. It interweaves the instruments with melodic passages that overlap each other creating constant color and textural changes as the piece progresses. It contrasts from stately passages of the first movement to the dance feel of the third and from the intense emotional melodies of the second to light fast paced playful ones in the fourth. – Dedicated to his wife Emma Dierl.

Program notes by Eduardo Contreras