The piano quartet is one of Taneev's most impressive pieces, and one of the most important in the Russian chamber music repertory. It is a 'late' work in which Taneyev's famous contrapuntal mastery reaches its zenith. The extremely intricate and sophisticated textures do not diminish the quartet's heartfelt and lyrical warmth - on the contrary, the music flows along in a spontaneous and wholly natural manner. Yet there are also some very dramatic moments, and the work ends with an imposing fugue.