Hoffmeister, Franz Anton - Concerto No.2 E major for 2 horns - Download

Both concertos come from the estate of Franz Zwierzina and were purchased in 1858 by the library of the princely house of Oettingen-Wallerstein.

At the court of Wallerstein, the horn players were among the showpieces of the court music. The finest virtuosos were engaged for the orchestra or performed here as guest soloists: the horn players Palsa and Türrschmidt (the latter was also employed for a time) played here, and the horn players Nisle, Nagel, Zwierzina, Hiebesch and Domnich held permanent positions.

Particular emphasis was placed on solo duet playing, in which soloists such as Nagel and Zwierzina must have achieved an exceptionally virtuosic perfection. Besides pure solo pieces, Hoffmeister, Rosetti, Amon, Witt, Hiebesch, Feldmayr and others therefore wrote works for 2 horns and orchestra. Here, too, is the original title:

Concert: / pour / Deux Cors / avec l'Accompagnement / deux Violons deux Allto / deux Hautbois deux cors / et / Basso / par / Mons: Hoffmeister:

This title names two violas, yet the parts contain none. With the first concerto, the situation is exactly the reverse. The title pages were therefore quite probably swapped when the collection was catalogued, which means this concerto could be the earlier of the two.

Orchestral parts: 5/5/4/5 winds, solo