Souvenir de Boieldieu, op. 17 – Romance for Horn and Piano
The brothers Mengal have often been mistaken for one another. There was Martin-Joseph Mengal (1784–1851) and his younger brother Jean Mengal (1792–1878) — both renowned horn players. Jean studied in Paris under the horn player Domnich and, like his brother in 1809, won first prize at the Paris Conservatoire in 1814. He was principal horn at the Paris Opéra. Both brothers composed numerous works, so the attribution of individual pieces is not always certain.
The present composition, "Souvenir de Boieldieu – Romance de Charles de France," op. 17, draws on melodies from Adrien Boieldieu's (1775–1834) stage work "Charles de France," published in 1816. This composition by Jean Mengal must also have first appeared in print that same year, with the publisher Janet et Cotelle in Paris. The work is dedicated to Mengal's pupil Alfred Duboullais.
