Woodwind Ensemble - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.768500 Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn. Arranged by Roar Kvam. Classical,Concert. 114 pages. KVAMusic Edition #3454071. Published by KVAMusic Edition (A0.768500). About 1785, Haydn received a commission to write a series of concertos for Ferdinand IV, King of Naples and the Twin Sicilies. It was a very curious commission; for these concertos were to be written for a pair of strange instruments, the so-called Lira organizzata. The lira was a favourite instrument of the lazzaroni, the common people of Neaples: the Bourbon King, though often a rough and uncouth monarch, had a deep affection for his people. and for all their peculiar customs, and it is characteristic that his favourite musical instrument should have been that so beloved by his people. In a letter from the King of Neaples there are two points which explain much of the peculiar character of Haydn’s concertos for the King: the first is the restricted tonal range of all the works, C, F and G major are the only principal keys allowed. The second is the range of the lira itself which is about that of an oboe. Bearing these limitations in mind, Haydn did not attempt to write complicated double concertos, but rather ensemble music for two lire, two violins, two violas, cello and two horns, in other words, 9 solo instruments. (This edition: Flute, oboe, two clarinets, two basset horns, bassoon, contrabass and two horns). Moreover, he neatly combined the concerto form with that of the divertimento: there is often no strict division into solo and tutti, but constant intermingling of both. Wonderful music by Haydn, originally written for a mixed ensemble of 2 liras, 2 Horns and strings, but this is a transcription for a classical wind ensemble, a great companion for a concert together with i.e. Mozart’s Gran Partita, since it has almost the same instrumentation.
