Martin Joseph Mengal composed several works for horn and orchestra. His “Premier Concerto de Cor a Grand Orchester op.20” must have appeared in print around 1815 in Paris. It was re-edited as ROM 401 2020.
In the library of the conservatory in Ghent (Belgium) the transcripts of the parts for the present composition have been preserved. There it is referred to as Concerto de Cor par Mengal fils, without being numbered. However, on the parts of the wind instruments is 1er Concerto de Cor par J: Mengal ainé-
The first entry probably refers to the distinction with Mengal's father, the entry on the wind parts to the distinction with the younger brother of Martin Joseph.
Since Mengal was planning a Concerto No. 3, which was then printed as a solo for horn and orchestra, this composition, which is hereby published for the first time, has been classified as Concerto No. 2.
The exact date of origin of the work cannot be determined due to a lack of sources, but it must have been composed around or after 1815. What is striking about this work is that it does not contain a slow middle movement and is comparatively long at almost 30 minutes playing time. Perhaps this unusual structure was a reason it was not published in print at the time.
string parts is 5/5/3/5
