Paul Wranitzky - "Das Waldmädchen" Parthia from the Ballet for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns and 2 bassoons
– First edition –
Paul Wranitzky (Czech: Pavel Vranický) was born on 30 December 1756 in Neureisch, Margraviate of Moravia (today Nová Říše in the Czech Republic). In his youth he learned singing, organ, viola and violin. In 1776 he moved to Vienna to continue his studies at a theological seminary and worked as a church choirmaster. In the early 1780s he abandoned his religious training in favour of a professional musical career. Around this time he met Joseph Martin Kraus (1756–1792), Kapellmeister at the court of the Swedish King Gustav III, who was then staying in Vienna, and studied composition with him.
In spring 1784 Wranitzky obtained his first major musical position, becoming music director at the court of the Hungarian nobleman Count Johann Nepomuk Esterházy in Galantha. In October 1785 he became director of the newly founded Kärntnertortheater orchestra. Two years later he was engaged at the Burgtheater, Vienna's other principal theatre, as "first orchestra director" and "director of the violins" (i.e. concertmaster) of the two imperial-royal court theatres (the Burg- and Kärntnertortheater) – until about 1796 for the Italian opera, and thereafter for the German opera.
As an established and highly regarded composer, conductor and violinist, his works were performed and published throughout Europe.
On 15 February 1793 he joined the Vienna Tonkünstler-Societät, and as its secretary arranged for Haydn's admission free of charge on 11 December 1797, along with his appointment as the society's "perpetual senior assessor". Haydn insisted that Wranitzky, one of the most respected conductors of his time, conduct performances of The Creation in 1799 and 1800.
He died in Vienna on 26 September 1808.
This edition is based on a copy from the Oettingen-Wallerstein collection. The title reads: Parthia / Das Waldmädchen / Due Clarinetti, Oboi, Corni / Fagotti.
Wranitzky composed this work as a ballet, which premiered in Vienna in 1796. It enjoyed great popularity: in 1797 Ludwig van Beethoven composed his 12 Variations for piano WoO 71 on the theme "La russe" (No. 11) from this ballet.
The Parthia is an arrangement typical of the period for wind-band (Harmonie) scoring. In the present edition the clarinet parts have been prepared in two versions: the original, which calls for clarinets in C (except for No. 5), and a second version for clarinets in B-flat, as commonly used today.
Das Waldmädchen – No. 1 Sinfonia – No. 2 Maestoso