Beethoven op.87

[Guido]

This lovely little trio is given a very high opus number despite its relatively early composition date (around the turn of the century, but I think slightly before. Can't remember off the top of my head). What do we make of this?

[Gurn Blanston]

The Trio in C for 2 Oboes & English Horn - Biamonti 63 / Op 87 was composed in 1794-95, when B was new in Vienna. There is also a companion pice for the same instruments, Bia 137 / WoO 28, Variations in C for 2 Oboes & English Horn: on "Là ci darem la mano" from Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni". 1795.

What shall we make of these? Well, chamber music for winds was extremely popular in 1790's Vienna. And Beethoven was learning what he could, where he could at the time, so it is only natural that he should take a stab at it. The fact that he didn't publish them at the time may be a bit surprising, since they were composed at the exact same time as the Op 1 trios (1792-94), but he may not have felt that they were well-suited to be his Op 2, nearly as well as the piano sonatas were. They were probably played around the city by people he knew, helping to make his name known as a composer (he was only considered a virtuoso pianist at the time).

Why the high opus number then? Because he didn't publish them until 1806 (by Artaria), so Op 87 was the next one up. He did it for $$$. He offered the variations to Peters in 1823 with a bunch of other things, but the deal fell through and they never got published in his lifetime, thus the WoO #.

I happen to enjoy them a lot, although I have a decided taste for wind music, especially strongly Classical style works. It seems I have recommended a few years back to Jochannan that he learn these, maybe he did and can comment. Or maybe he already had and blew me off     Anyway, if you like Classical wind chamber music, you can do a hell of a lot worse than these!

9)

[BachQ]

Anyway, if you like Classical wind chamber music, you can do a hell of a lot worse than these!

Now there's a ringing endorsement .........

[Gurn Blanston]

Now there's a ringing endorsement .........

I always try my best to refrain from such phrases as "beneath the green lemon"...

(They are very enjoyable to listen to. What more can I say? They are not the greatest music ever written, if they were, they would be on all those compilation disks you see on TV. You know "100 Greatest Works in D minor", like that  )

[BachQ]

"100 Greatest Works in D minor"

(what I would give for "D Minor -- The Complete Works 1650-2007")

[Gurn Blanston]

TTT

[karlhenning]

TTT

Now, wait just a minute, buster! 

[Gurn Blanston]

Now, wait just a minute, buster! 

Noted Guido was online, and hoped he would remember starting this thread...

[jochanaan]

...It seems I have recommended a few years back to Jochannan that he learn these, maybe he did and can comment. Or maybe he already had and blew me off   

Of course I've played it, although not yet in the original instrumentation.  Lovely music indeed, and a valuable addition to the double-reed repertoire.

[uffeviking]

They were probably played around the city by people he knew,

This is an interesting post I found merely by accident, scrolling. My knowledge of Beethoven is minuscule compared to this poster's, but what caught my attention was the short sentence I quoted above. It brings to our attention the popular custom of what is called in German 'Hausmusik, a custom practically dead in this country. Amateur musicians, friends, getting together in the evening, bringing their instruments and entertaining themselves. Playing music because they like it, not to prepare for a public appearance to make money; no, just for the fun of it.

Anybody here a member of such a friendly neighbourly group? And if you are, what are you playing? Please, not get-together in the garage making noise. I am talking about music! 

[karlhenning]

Hey, Hausmusik was the garage band of its day 

[Bunny]

This is an interesting post I found merely by accident, scrolling. My knowledge of Beethoven is minuscule compared to this poster's, but what caught my attention was the short sentence I quoted above. It brings to our attention the popular custom of what is called in German 'Hausmusik, a custom practically dead in this country. Amateur musicians, friends, getting together in the evening, bringing their instruments and entertaining themselves. Playing music because they like it, not to prepare for a public appearance to make money; no, just for the fun of it.

Anybody here a member of such a friendly neighbourly group? And if you are, what are you playing? Please, not get-together in the garage making noise. I am talking about music! 

Not that dead.  Here's a picture of Condi Rice with her chamber group.  They are for the most part all amateurs.


 

[uffeviking]

OK, have it your way - almost! Carriage Haus Kapelle. Mostly different instruments though and a much more agreeably pleasant sound produced.  

[karlhenning]

Well, that doesn't quite gainsay Lis's observations.

How much does one need to earn annually, in order to be in a position to make Hausmusik with the Secretary of State, would you reckon?  

[uffeviking]

Not to mention the security clearance, full body search and background checks. Instruments and their carrying cases x-rayed too! 

[Guido]

Not that dead.  Here's a picture of Condi Rice with her chamber group.  They are for the most part all amateurs.


 

I know the cellist! He delights in critisizing 'Condi'! They are only amateurs in the sense that they rarely get payed for playing anymore - at least two of them did a music performance degree at top schools and converted to law.

Yeah I see this thread. Thanks for the info!

What's TTT?

[BachQ]

What's TTT?

To The Top

[bhodges]

Reviving this thread (and surprised to find it!) since I heard a live performance of this piece last night, transcribed for three flutes (including one alto flute) by Karl Fritz Kraber, one of the three musicians.  If I heard correctly, he mentioned that this trio has been adapted for a number of instrumental combinations other than the original oboes and horn.

Anyway, enjoyed it! 

--Bruce

[Gurn Blanston]

Reviving this thread (and surprised to find it!) since I heard a live performance of this piece last night, transcribed for three flutes (including one alto flute) by Karl Fritz Kraber, one of the three musicians.  If I heard correctly, he mentioned that this trio has been adapted for a number of instrumental combinations other than the original oboes and horn.

Anyway, enjoyed it! 

--Bruce

Interesting, Bruce. I have a couple of versions of it, but all with the original instrumentation (2 oboes and English Horn for those of you who lost the thread of the thread over the last 2 years... ). I would be delighted to hear it "live" by nearly any combination of instruments (OK, not 2 trumpets & tuba, but...).

[bhodges]

It does sort of spark some creative thinking, e.g., how about two violins--and a banjo?    (All right, I kid, I kid.)  I think the version he mentioned was for cello(s?) and piano.

PS, Kraber divides his time between New York, and not too far from you--Austin!

--Bruce