Horn 1: c1 - a2
Horn 2: c1 - g2
Horn 3: g - g2
Horn 4: c - e2
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
Hornist's Nest provides interesting notes about the composer and work:
"These delightful and gentle quartets were sent to us as copies of the our separate horn parts (dated 1935) BY Thomas Kjellden of the Malmo Symfoniorkester, Sweden, who supplied the following biographical material and suggestion.
Bernahrd Crusell (born 1775, in Nystadm Finland, died 1838 in Stockholm, Sweden) was one of the outstanding clarinetists of his time, and a member of the Royal Court Orchestra in Stockholm from 1793 until 1834. He studies composition in Paris in 1803, and these quartets were probably written about 1810. Among his other works are a Concertante for Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn and Orchestra (1808), a Horn Concerto (1813), and a Concert Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn (1814).
The quartets are written in a typical ‘”Horn Romantic” style and may be transposed. Somewhere between F and D would seem most practical.
Regarding the signs (closed and open) in the music, Crusell obviously wanted some kind of echo effect, but one can only surmise that he had little idea of what was involved. Hand stpping would surely have changed the pitch of the natural instrument, yet there are notes in the echo sections that would be unobtainable without the use of the hand. There is also very little time allowed for mute changes in some cases. Therefore, we have included the markings, leaving the solution to the problem (as usual) in the hands of the performers.”
The division of parts is the usual quartet one, 1-2-3-4 (unlike the orchestral division 1-3-2-4), with the melody almost exclusively in the first part. With all three quartets in the same key and few modulations or rhythmic variation, these pieces rely heavily on the expressive ability of the first player. As they are available at a very good price though, they make an interesting addition to the repertoire, both individually and collectively.