Some may be surprised to learn that Dora Pejacevic is described as a contemporary of Johannes Brahms; more than fifty years separated their births, and their lives overlapped for only twelve years. Nevertheless, both works by Pejacevic unmistakably follow the same compositional path as Brahms's pieces; and both were written at an early point in Pejacevic's remarkable (and sadly all too brief) life. Both works clearly stand within the Romantic tradition and show no signs of the more modern direction her later works would take. The Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective reports being immediately captivated by the passionate power of Pejacevic's Piano Quartet, but also by the delicacy of its slow movement, and felt it was the perfect partner for Brahms's First Piano Quartet, a work with which Artistic Director Tom Poster has felt a special affinity since his student days. Brahms's piano quartet is justly one of the most popular chamber music works, and there are few works more exciting to perform: the first movement offers a wealth of beautiful themes, the second takes you into a mysterious dream world, the third movement luxuriates in expansive lyricism, and the fiery virtuosity of the gypsy-like finale is a fitting conclusion.

This album marks the end of the ensemble's journey through Brahms's three piano quartets. They have recorded these works with great pleasure alongside three major piano quartets by composers who deserve to be far better known. However, the series extends beyond the piano quartets: The Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective has more albums in the pipeline that bring together Brahms with his brilliant and underperformed contemporaries.