Music For Horns

The Divertimento no.14 was written in Salzburg in 1777, and is originally scored for 2 horns, 2 oboes and 2 bassoons. The reason this works as a quartet arrangement is the frequent part doubling that is characteristic for pieces of this kind. For one, the limitations of the natural horn result in doubling or octave doubling, and there is also some doubling the oboes / bassoons.

The arrangement is in the original key, and there is no clear assignment of the original horn parts. Instead, the parts are evenly distributed among the quartet, in the customary orchestra section way (1-3-2-4) and the associated tessituras. The difficulty comes mainly from the oboe parts, and the very quick finale. Being a Mozart composition though, the lines are all perfectly organised within the key, and Martinet simply followed the example.

This is a piece of light, classical music, and there are not that many available for horn quartet. For the excellent price all Baltimore Horn Club publications are available, this one comes highly recommended.