Concert for French Horn and Orchestra No. 1 (Strauss)

The concert clavier was dedicated by Strauss to the wedding anniversary of his parents: the famous horn player and composer Franz Strauss and Josephine Pschorr. However, in the orchestra score, Strauss wrote a dedication to another horn player Oscar Franz . The concert is markedly influenced by German classical and romantic traditions, in particular the music of Robert Schumann , especially in the slow second part. It is curious that Franz Strauss, when he first saw the notes of the concert, found it too technically difficult to perform. Probably, this opinion was due to the imperfection of the instruments of that time. For contemporary performers this concert does not present serious difficulties. The second Strauss concert , written 60 years later, is much more complicated.

• 2 flutes
• 2 oboes
• 2 clarinet
• 2 bassoons

• 2 French horn
• 2 pipes

• Timpani

• 1st Violins
• 2nd Violins
• Viola
• Cello
• Double bass

The concert consists of three parts. All parts follow each other without interruption ( attaca ). The total duration of the concert is about 16 minutes.

Part I

• Allegro

The concert opens with a bravura signal of a horn imitating the sounds of a hunting horn. Then, after a short orchestral introduction, the lyrical theme of the solo horn follows. The orchestra in this section performs mainly the supporting function. Gradually developing, the theme reaches its climax, then, gradually calming down, smoothly flows into the next part.

Part II

• Andante

The second part is a lyrical minor ballad for a horn with a modest orchestral accompaniment. The solo part several times forms duets with clarinet and bassoon organically woven into the main melodic line. In the middle of a part of the horn, accompanied by a rich accompaniment of woodwinds, a heroic motif plays, but then quickly calms down, passing to the finale.

Part III

• Allegro

The finale is a quick rondo starting with the energetic and bravura main theme of the solo horn. Then it gives way to calmer, but still quite lively music. The concert code is a classic scherzo, reminiscent of the final parts of horn concerts by V. A. Mozart .

The first concert of Strauss was in the repertoire of almost all the leading French horns of the 20th century. The concert was recorded, in particular, by Dennis Brain with the Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karayan , Vitaliy Buyanovsky with the ZKR ASO of the Leningrad Philharmonic conducted by Evgeny Mravinsky and German Bauman with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Kurtazaz . Other notable artists include Peter Damm , Dale Clevenger , Ayfor James , Barry Tuckwell , Zdenek Tylshar , Frank Lloyd , Radovan Vlatkovich , Victor Galkin and Louise Maria Neineker . There is also a recording of the famous American tubist Arnold Jacobs performing this concert arranged for a tuba .

• Concerto for French Horn and Orchestra No. 1 (Strauss): sheet music by International Music Score Library Project