Johann Georg Abeltshauser
Quartet Op. 4 for Flute, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon
In 1813, the present quartet was published under the title Six pièces en Quatuor pour Flûte, Clarinette, Cor et Basson, Oeuvre 4 by Johann Georg Abeltshauser. The title page notes that at the time he was Premier Cor du Théâtre Français de Strasbourg. Little is known about his biography.
His son was Ignatius Georg Abeltshauser, born in 1805 or 1806 in Arenberg, Département de Rhin-et-Moselle, French Empire. After killing his opponent in a duel, he fled to Ireland, where he became a well-known philologist and was ordained a priest. He died in Dublin in 1866.
Johann Georg Abeltshauser must therefore have been living in Arenberg in 1805/06, before taking up his position in Strasbourg.
In addition to the present Quartet Op. 4, he published with Schott in 1813 twelve quartets for four horns, six quartets Op. 3 for two flutes and two horns, and, as Opus 2, a Quartet in D major for two flutes and two horns (newly edited as ROM 429).
In addition to the original clarinet part in C, a part in B flat has been edited.
The movement sequence is: Allegro moderato – Adagio ma non troppo – Chasse – Allegro maestoso – Adagio – Walse
