Review

Various
Quintette:

Arranged by Peter Damm

four horns and trombone

Halberstadt, , Germany
Publisher: Musikverlag Bruno Uetz
Date of Publication: 2009

Contains: Carl Maria von Weber Der Freischütz Jägerchor, Euryanthe Jägerchor and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Con moto.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

A quintet for four horns and one trombone? Don’t worry colleagues, this music is worth it, even though there is only one trombone part. And let me hasten to add that as a horn player who has been invited to write this review, there is no reason that this could not be performed by five trombones. But for this version, I think the fifth part, when played by trombone, will add stability and grace to the horn ensemble. 

Editor Peter Damm is one of the grand statesmen in the horn world and his excellent work as performer, teacher, and publisher has been known since he occupied the solo horn position at the Säachsische Staatskapelle, Dresden, 1969-2002. He taught for many years at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden; how appropriate for this small collection featuring the hunting choruses from Weber’s operas, Der Freischütz and Euryanthe. In addition, there is a beautiful and unknown 23-measure piece designated by its tempo, Con moto, written by Mendelssohn. Con moto was found in the Washington State University Library in its present arrangement for four horns and trombone.

As in many authentic editions, the first page portrays a facsimile of Mendelssohn’s Con Moto. The opera excerpts are exuberant and joyful...and tiring, for first horn; it remains in the upper register the entire time. Therefore, it would be wise to trade parts at appropriate phrases, and I am sure that occurs in many performances of this music. If you listen to the hunting choruses in the operas you will know why these pieces are favorites of brass players.

Finally, this music requires the players to transpose; each part is written for horn in a different key: D, E flat, B flat and F, so swapping parts may be tricky for less experienced players. But it’s worth transposing the parts for five trombones. It’s great music!  

-Willard Zirk
Eastern Michigan University