Search - Martin van de Merwe :: Mozart: Chamber Music with Horn

Mozart that is not heard very much

Adam Lippold | Florida | 01/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The music on this CD is, like the title says, chamber music with horn by Mozart. Mozart's chamber music is where his true genius lies. His chamber music doesn't seem to get the amount of credit that the symphonies or concertos get, which is entirely wrong. The chamber music of Mozart gives us a side of his personality that his symphonies or concertos do not.



On this disc there is the Horn Quintet, A Musical Joke, and the 12 Duos. The instrument was not specified for the duos, but horn or basset horn (an early clarinet) are the ones that they are usually played on. Rumor has it that he thought of these while he playing billiards or bowling with Leutgeb (the person whom he wrote the Horn Quintet and Concertos for). Being a horn player, I am naturally biased as to what instrument they should be played on. The performances on this disc give the best case for the horn, possessing both beauty and incredible difficulty for both players.



The Horn Quintet is one of the best modern instrument versions that I own. While the first movement may be a bit slow in the beginning, it picks up the pace after the introduction. The third movement is absolutely unbelievable! There is such great speed, though never at the price of the music. It is amazing how Martin van de Merwe can play so cleanly at such a tempo.



A Musical Joke is played very tastefully. The group gives the feeling of a village group of players in their phrasing and style; even so, they never play incompetently or with a sound that is not pleasing to the ear. The players bring out the dissonances and repetitiveness that Mozart put in. They seem to be having almost as good a time playing as I do listening.



The recording is very clean as well. There is feeling that you are sitting in the audience, not too far back but at the right place to catch all the detail.



In all, if you want to hear some "new" or different Mozart, pick up this disc, especially if you or someone you know is a horn player.



Verdict: Buy this if you can find it."