Surinach Piano Quartet and Fauré Piano Quartet #1 in C minor, Op.

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers. His Piano Quartet is one of the two chamber works he wrote for the piano quartet combination of piano, violin, viola and cello. Despite being in a minor key it is predominantly positive in tone, though with some hints in the slow movement of the emotional turmoil of Fauré's life at the time of the composition.

Carlos Surinach (1915-1997) was a Spanish-born composer and conductor. He was born in Barcelona. His Austrian-Polish mother was a house pianist, introducing him to music at a young age. He began playing the piano between ages 5–6 and started studying music around age 10. 

In late 1950, Carlos Suriñach emigrated to the United States, in hopes of becoming a successful published composer. World War II just recently finished and European publishers were frantically republishing previous music of the great composers. Full of ambition, he first stopped in New York to conduct an orchestra. In May 1951, a concert featuring the New York's most elite artists was held at the Museum of Modern Art. Works of his, Martha Graham, Israel's Batsheva, Jose Lemon, Balanchine, Doris Humphrey, and many others were all featured in the concert. He worked with many choreographers including Doris Humphrey, Jose Limon, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Robert Coin, Antonio at the Ballets of Madrid, and more. He died in New Haven, CT.