Brahmsiana

Description

Horn in F 1, Horn in F 2, Horn in F 3, Horn in F 4, Horn in F 5, Horn in F 6, Horn in F 7, Horn in F 8 — “Brahmsiana” is dedicated to the Eastman Horn Choir and its director Peter Kurau, who commissioned it as a fanfare for the start of the 25th annual convention of the International Horn Society.xa0 It was written in February 1997 and premiered at the convention that June.xa0 A slow, stately opening reminiscent of a French Overture (because of its dotted rhythms) leads to a joyous second section based on the famous tune of the Brahms Horn Trio.xa0 This tune is exploited until it has played itself out, and giving way to a shortened version of the opening, which is combined with one of the contrapuntal themes stemming from the main body of the work. —Samuel Adler