Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, op. 11
performed Oct 21, 2001

Richard Strauss (1864-1949) was the first major composer after Mozart to bring the horn out from the shadows and to promote it to a central musical figure. With a sensitivity to instrumental innovations, Wagner magnificently exploited the technical possibilities of the valved horn, which had been developed around 1820. From Wagner, the 19-year-old Richard Strauss found a model in 1883 for his Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, op. 11. Also a powerful influence was Strauss' father, Franz, who was the first horn player of the Munich Court Opera. Franz initiated his son into the horn's wealth of expression and color, immense tonal range, and technical tricks. The First Horn Concerto captures much of the heroic quality we find in mature Strauss compositions, especially in the fanfare-like introduction. Nonetheless, the texture and style of composition hearken back to Mozart in clarity and simplicity, contrary to the ornate style that would eventually become a trademark of Strauss. The influence of his father would eventually lead Strauss to write another horn concerto nearer the end of his career, in 1942.