Presents
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
DIVERTMENTO NO.1 |
DIVERTIMENTO NO.2 |
DIVERTIMENTO NO.3 |
DIVERTIMENTO NO.4 |
DIVERTIMENTO NO.5 |
Five Divertimenti for 2 Violins & Cello, K.229 Anh / 439b
Mozart
is famous, but his 5 Divertimenti K.229 Anh/439b languish in obscurity. They
were composed sometime between 1783 and 1785 and were originally for three
basset horns. All were unknown until 1800, when Mozart's widow Constanze wrote
to a publisher that the famous clarinetist Anton Stadler still had in his
possession 25 pieces by Mozart for three basset horns. The basset horn was an
alto clarinet with an extended bass range. It is thought that Mozart created
these pieces for the pleasure of Stadler, his brother, and a third player. In
1803, Breitkopf & Härtel published them for two basset horns and bassoon. Later,
the 25 pieces were published by Simrock and divided into five 'Serenades' for
two clarinets and bassoon. All later editions and arrangements were based on
this Simrock publication, including ours for 2 Violins and Cello, made by the
famous violinist, teacher and editor, Friedrich Hermann. Hermann made the
arrangement at the request of the publisher Peters who knew that the music was
never going to get purchased or performed by many people in a version for 2
clarinets and bassoon.