One, two or three horns

Well-known horn works published by Henle and Bärenreiter in recent years, Mozart's Horn Concertos (HN 701-4, BA 5311-13) and the Horn Quintet (HN 826) as well as Beethoven's Sextet op. 81b (HN 955) and Brahms' Horn Trio (BA 9435), have already been reviewed here (SMZ 6/2004, S. 40; SMZ 4/2011, S. 38; SMZ 9/2013, S. 20). The editorial line is now being continued by Henle with the publication of two short compositions. Both are also suitable for teaching advanced pupils:

In Glasunow's Rêverie reflects the composer's love of the French horn, which he learned to play alongside the piano, violin and cello and even played in the student orchestra. The work, written in 1890 and only published by Mélodie in Rêverie is preceded by two further compositions for horn and strings: Idyll op.14,1 and the 2. Serenade op. 11, composed in 1884.

Alexander Glasunow, Rêverie op. 24 for horn and piano, edited by Dominik Rahmer, HN 1285, € 7.50, G. Henle, Munich 2015

The Wind Quintet op. 43 by Carl Nielsen shows the composer to be a master in the treatment of wind instruments: each player is given his own brilliant cadenza. Nielsen later wrote concertos for the flute and clarinet, but unfortunately he did not write a solo concerto for us horn players. The newly published Canto serioso was commissioned as an audition piece for a 4th horn position to be filled at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen at the time. Nielsen's later rewriting for cello proves that it was not just an occasional work.

Carl Nielsen, Canto serioso for horn and piano, Urtext edited by Dominik Rahmer, HN 586, € 9.00, G. Henle, Munich 2014

In the series published by Doblinger Diletto Musicaleare the Six small pieces for three horn players by Franz Alexander Pössinger (1767-1827). The short, entertaining compositions are suitable for young horn players to play together. They were probably intended for a horn virtuoso of Beethoven's time, Friedrich Hradezky. He is said to be on the cast list of the Vienna Fidelio-In 1824, he probably played the infamous horn solo in the third movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Franz Alexander Pössinger, Sechs kleine Stücke op. 30 for three horns, edited by Rudolf H. Führer, DM 1475, € 19.95, Doblinger, Vienna 2014

Lovingly edited by Simon Scheiwiller, Kunzelmann has published a Concerto for two horns by Wenzel Wratny, who worked as a bandmaster and music director in Leibach and Graz in the 18th century. This is an enjoyable piece which can also be performed by advanced amateurs or natural horn players.

Wenzel Wratny , Concerto per 2 Corni da Caccia in E flat major, piano reduction and parts, edited by Simon Scheiwiller, first edition, OCT 10335a, Fr. 35.00, Edition Kunzelmann, Adliswil 2014