Jean Nisle
The original title names the piano as the solo instrument, as was customary at that time, with the horn as the accompanying instrument – an apt trick given the large number of pianists then, as now.
This work was first published in 1818 and was briefly reviewed in the Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung of November 1818:
Unfortunately, the composer of this work, Johann Nisle, is not exactly known. This edition is based on a print by Breitkopf in Leipzig, which names Jean Nisle as the composer. However, this name belongs to a family of several musicians.
The first candidate is Johannes Nisle (born 28 February 1735, died 22 May 1788). He was taught by the Bohemian horn virtuoso Rudolphe and became a court musician in Stuttgart, where he served as 1st horn player from 1765 to 1767. As 2nd horn, he played alongside the 1st horn player Türrschmiedt at the Wallerstein court in Neuwied from 1773 to 1777, before returning to the Stuttgart court. Gerber's encyclopaedia mentions him as a 2nd horn player noted for the wonderful ease of his playing and his use of deep pedal tones. His compositions, however, are described as poor, as he reportedly did not master composition technique.
He had three sons, all of whom took up the horn from a very young age and performed in concerts with their father. On 16 January 1798, the Nisle brothers appeared in Leipzig:
16.1.1798
Concert of the two Nisle brothers on the horn in the hall of the Thomäisches Haus
- Double concerto for horns by Rosetti
- Variations for one horn by W. Nisle
- Duet for two horns by I. Nisle
Two of his sons are possible candidates for the composition of this fantasy:
1. Johann Wilhelm Friedrich Nisle (1768–1839)
He was 1st cellist at the Stuttgart court from 1805 to 1835. However, he had already learned the horn as a child and performed together with his father and brothers.
2. Johann Martin Friedrich Nisle (1780–1861)
He is the probable composer of this work. As a child, he often performed as a duo with his brother Christian David Nisle, or as a trio with their father. He studied composition and piano under H. C. Koch in Rudolstadt, and later studied at the University of Rostock.
In 1806 he went to Vienna and served, together with his brother Christian David, in the chapel of the (presumed) Prince von Vegh in Vereb (Hungary) until 1809. He then stayed in Catania (Sicily) until around 1818, where he taught, composed, and founded a school of music. He returned to Germany in 1821 and played viola at the Stuttgart court until 1824. After this, only a few details about his life are known: he performed in Switzerland, in Berlin from 1828 to 1829, and in Bunzlau from 1835 to 1836. He died after 1861.