Heinrich Neumann
Sérénade op. 28 for Horn (or Basset Horn) and 2 Guitars
sur un Air favori de l’Opéra „Oberon“ de Weber
Heinrich Neumann's biography remains largely obscure. He was probably born in Heiligenstadt in 1792 and died in the same town in 1861. In his "Universal Biography of Musicians and Their Music," François Joseph Fétis notes that Neumann lived in Frankfurt am Main at the beginning of the 19th century, and lists his most important compositions, most of which were written for clarinet. It is therefore certain that Neumann began his career in Frankfurt.
He then moved to Paderborn, where he took up a conducting post. His musical career received a major boost when he was appointed first clarinettist at the court orchestra of Leopold I in Detmold. He was probably recommended by his brother, who served in the same orchestra as flautist and clarinettist. According to the MGG, Neumann worked there as a conductor from 1823 to 1829.
Neumann later accepted an appointment in Cologne, where he directed the court orchestra as conductor. From Cologne he moved to the same position in Antwerp, where he received the title of director of the "Royal Society for Wind Instruments." In keeping with his role as conductor of such an ensemble, several of Neumann's compositions for wind ensemble have come down to us and are preserved today in the state library of Detmold.
In July 1832, Friedrich Hofmeister's "Monthly Reports on Music Literature" announced his Sérénade sur un Air fav. de l'Opéra: Oberon de Weber p. Cor (ou Cor de Bassette) et 2 Guitarres, Oe. 28, Offenbach, André, 36 Xr.
The present work was conceived for horn, though it can also be played on basset horn. The range of the horn part corresponds to that typical of a solo instrument — a point further supported by comparison with Neumann's other serenades for clarinet or basset horn, in which the solo instrument is written in a considerably more virtuosic and idiomatic manner.
The work was dedicated to a Mademoiselle A. Funck. Its scoring for 2 guitars is certainly unique.
