Programme Notes RICHARD STRAUSS Horn Concerto No.1 in E-flat major, Op. 11 Richard Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early twentieth century period, particularly noted for his tone poems and operas. He was also a prominent conductor. He received musical education from his father, Franz Strauss, who was the principal horn player at the Munich Court Opera. When Richard Strauss began as a composer, he had profound influence from his father. Despite his father loves for music of classical style, as compositions by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. Richard Strauss went to become one of the most prominent composers of modern style. The concerto is one of the most well-known solo works for the horn. The three-movement piece has a traditional fast-slow-fast form, but with individual formal characteristics in each movement. In the first movement, the horn begins immediately after a tutti chord and jumps in with an energetic fanfare. The first movement shows the horn player’s musicality and flexibility with a smooth and connected line. It then develops the dynamic and rhythm on both harmony and melodies through the first movement. The second movement is softer in both tone and style. It begins in a somber melody and develops to a drastic change of mood, characterised by a distant key change and wide leaps. The third movement follows a non-traditional rondo form with some unique alterations. It closes on with an extended coda in a very fast tempo. All three movements are linked by varied manipulation of the opening fanfare. W.A. MOZART Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, K. 417 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. He was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. Mozart showed his musical talent from his earliest childhood and received intensive musical training from his father, including instruction in both the piano and violin. He began to compose his own works at the age of five and he completed his first opera at the age of eleven. Af the age of 17, he was engaged as a musician at the Salzburg court. He then moved to Vienna while his career flourished. During his final years in Vienna, he composed many of his best-known symphonies, concertos, and operas, and portions of the Requiem, which was largely unfinished at the time of his death. Mozart’s well-known horn concertos were all written during the last ten years of his life in Vienna. Mozart’s horn concertos were written for his friend Joseph lgnaz Leutgeb and the horn concerto No.2 was actually the first published horn concerto of Mozart’s four horn concertos. This concerto was written for a small-bore natural horn rich and noble voice of the horn. The first movement begins with a piano introduction, that will establish the thematic material of the work. Following a short first exposition, the soloist enters with a new theme. Then, the development shifts to minor key. The second movement is a serenading romance in the dominant key of B flat that presents a serene mood. The final movement is a vivacious hunting rondo and it presents a brilliant dialogue between the soloist and piano. FRANCIS POULENC Elégie for Horn and Piano (In memory of Denis Brain) Francis Poulenc was a French composer and a pianist. Most of his compositions consist of mélodies, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Poulenc's has several well-known pieces which includes the piano suite Trois mouvements perpétuels (1919), the ballet Les biches (1923), the Concert champêtre (1928) for harpsichord and orchestra, the Organ Concerto (1938), the opera Dialogues des Carmélites (1957), and the Gloria (1959) for soprano, choir and orchestra. Elegie for Horn and Piano was composed by Poulenc which commemorates the passing of Dennis Brain, who was a famous English horn-player. This piece is also composed by using a 12- tone system. The piece is written in a way that depicts Dennis Brain's car accident which sounds violent. Rapid articulation and loud dynamic range are used to help depict this sad incident. This piece requires many aspects of playing which includes maturity, sensitivity and emotions. This work when played correctly could deliver the right intense connection between both the performer and the audience..