TITLE: Octet in E flat major, opus 25 (1803)

• Also known as Partita in E flat

COMPOSER: Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Johann Nepomuk Hummel was born in Pressburg, Germany. Pressburg is now Bratislava, Slvakia. He was a German pianist and composer who was a student of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He represented one of the two schools of piano performance style at the turn of the century. Hummel's style emphasized clarity of texture and fluency of technique. The other school, of which Beethoven was representative, emphasized tone, wide dynamic range and orchestral effects.

He was employed as Konzertmeister by the Esterhazy family at Eisenstadt, where he composed the Octet in Eb. He later served as Kapellmeister at Stuttgart and Weimar.

MOVEMENTS: Three

1. Allegro con spirito 6' 24"
2. Andante 3' 47"
3. Vivace assai 2' 48"

PERFORMANCE TIME: 13' 00"

INSTRUMENTATION: 8 Instruments

• 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns with optional Contra-bassoon

EDITIONS: Available for Purchase

• W.I.N.D.S., (Wind Instrument New Dawn Society), Box 513, Northridge, CA 91328

COMPOSITION SKETCH AND MUSICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Johann Neopmuk Hummel's music looks back to the period of his fellow Viennese composers Haydn and Mozart, with whom he had strong times. His Octet-Partita of 1803 is scored for pairs of oboes, clarinets, bassoons and horns. Originally, the work included a part for serpent that provided a unique foundation for the other instruments. The current edition substitutes contra-bassoon for this instrument.

The opening Allegro con spirito is a brisk march in sonata form. Its fanfare-like melody is very military sounding. The second movement, Andante, is typical of the pleasant lilting "inspection music" that was used while troops would stand at attention, being inspected by their superiors. The third and final movement, Vivace assai, in contrast to the other two movements, musically suggests a hunting scene, that is light and entertaining to the listener.

SELECTED RECORDINGS:

RELATED WEBSITES:

Hummel's Biography - http://www.karadar.it/Dictionary/index.html

Hummel's Geneology - http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Ranch/983