C. Dittrich (c. 1830/40)
Divertissement for Waldhorn (Horn)
Scoring: flute, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, trumpet, timpani, strings
This is the title page of the first violin part. It also bears a handwritten note of the probable owner, a M. Schneider, and the year 1839.
Unfortunately, it can no longer be established when C. Dittrich lived or who he was. He may have been a horn player from Chemnitz who had this work printed at his own expense by J. G. Häcker. Hofmeister's music catalogue for 1834 to 1837 probably lists this composition as a Divertissement, Op. 8, by C. Dittrich for bass trombone. This may have been an arrangement of the horn print.
On 20 February 1840 the Leipzig Gewandhaus horn player Pfau performed a Divertissement for Waldhorn by Conrad. This piece may be identical with the present work by Dittrich, since errors also crept in when composers' names were passed on. Conrad and Dittrich are, moreover, both first names as well. The work itself is better described as an Andante, theme and variations, but it has the charm of the salon and virtuoso music of its day.