From: lampson@software.pulse.com (Dave Lampson)
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical
Subject: Divertimenti for Winds by F.J. Haydn
Date: 25 Jan 1993 15:05:43 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

During the early late 1750's and very early 1760's, prior to Haydn's
acceptance by the Esterhazy's for what would prove to be a 35-year
assignment as kappelmeister, Haydn was forced to glean what little
income he could from the composition of chamber music for potential
publication (his earliest experiments with the string quartets date 
from this time) and light music for social gatherings.  His primary 
customers for lighter works were local princes who desired new music
for their parties, often played outside, and requiring the minimum of
performers.  In response to this market, and a strong desire on Haydn
part to not only put food on the table (a major concern for him at the
time) but also have his music performed with the possibility of finding
a more permanent patron, he wrote many pieces, variously titled 
divertimentos, notturni, parthias, and feld-parthies.  The instrumentation
generally varied from wind sextet to octet (in the present recordings, 
the bass line is frequently strengthened with the use of a second bassoon
or double bass) including pairs of clarinets and/or oboes (flutes in the 
notturni), horns, and bassoons.  Very similar in conception to Mozart's 
6 divertimenti for pairs of oboes, horns & bassoons K. 213, 240, 252, 253,
270 & 289 written several more than a decade later in 1775-77, Haydn takes
the opportunity to experiment with many different timbral combinations.
This music may be "light", but it is not trivial.

The present recording brings together many of these works, including several
recently rediscovered works, in a rather unique collection.  The Consortium
Classicum, lead by the redoubtable clarinetist Dieter Klocker, is accustomed
to charting new territory, and here they have hit a gold mine of lighter,
yet masterfully written, works for winds.  Their ensemble playing is as
coherent has one would expect from this excellent group.  The recorded sound
is up close, but with sufficient depth to provide a warm, smooth acoustic for
these performances from 1980/81.  I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for music for
winds, but I can heartily recommend this set to anyone that enjoys Haydn or
works from this period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAYDN, F.J.          2 Divertimentos                          Hob deest      AAD
                     3 Parthias                               Hob deest
                     1 Divertimento (Parthia) #24             Hob II: 3
                     1 Divertimento (Feld-Parthie) #23        Hob II: 7
                     1 Divertimento #30                       Hob II:14
                     1 Divertimento (Parthia) #21             Hob II:15
                     1 Divertimento (Parthia) #22             Hob II:23
                     1 Sextet                   E Flat Major  Hob II:40
                     6 Divertimenti (Feld-Parthias)           Hob II:41-46
Consortium Classicum
Teldec                                                8.35814XC      (4) 4:53:15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A note on availability:  This 1988 set is not listed in the 1992 Teldec/Erato
catalog, and does not bear a catalog number with the same format as the
latest numbering system for these labels.  Though I bought this less than
a month ago, I suspect it won't be around much longer given Warner's seeming
reluctance to bring out more obscure recordings from Teldec's and Eratos' 
back catalogs.  I found this set for only $24, and I'd recommend that anyone
that is interested should search for this right away as availability may be
very limited.

Dave
lampson@pulse.com

For detailed lists of Recommended Classical CDs, Basic Repertoire and Buying
Guide access cs.uwp.edu (131.210.1.4) by anonymous FTP, or email me for info.

Contribute to the rec.music.classical biography project!  Email me your bio!

Newsgroups: rec.music.classical