When Count Karl von Morzin of Bohemia appointed the 25-year-old Haydn as director of his small court band in Unter-Lukawitz, near Pilsen, his young employee was required, in accordance with the convention of the time, to wear a powdered wig with pigtail. This may sound fusty or old-fashioned, but Haydn’s music is nothing of the sort: even at that time, in his first short symphonies, divertimenti and serenades, the young composer, later to become musical director at the court of Prince Esterházy in Hungary, was the epitome of ingenious wit, vivacity and inventive zest, as is perfectly demonstrated in this generous one-hour Campanella album of samples of entertaining wind music.

Common to all these pieces of open-air music, often thought to have links with military bands, is the scoring for two each of oboes, clarinets, bassoons and horns (with double-bass when required), these being the instruments that stood ready for his lordship at his palace. Here they combine into a delicious confection of short, invigorating pieces full of an irresistible piquancy, whose capricious, wayward twists and turns constantly reveal the innate gaiety of their composer.

Tracklisting

Divertimento für 2 Oboen, 2 Hörner und 2 Fagotte F-Dur Hob II:15
01 Presto
02 Minuet
03 Adagio
04 Minuet
05 Finale – Presto

Divertimento für 2 Oboen, 2 Hörner und 2 Fagotte F-Dur Hob II:23
06 Allegro
07 Menuet
08 Adagio
09 Menuet
10 Finale – Presto

Divertimento für 2 Oboen, 2 Hörner und 2 Fagotte C-Dur Hob II:7
11 Allegro
12 Menuet
13 Adagio
14 Menuet
15 Presto

Divertimento für 2 Klarinetten und 2 Hörner C-Dur Hob II:14
16 Allegro
17 Menuetto
18 Adagio
19 Menuetto
20 Finale – Presto

Divertimento für 2 Oboen, 2 Hörner und 2 Fagotte D-Dur Hob II:18
21 Allegro
22 Scherzo
23 Menuet
24 Adagio
25 Menuet
26 Finale – Allegro

Divertimento für 2 Oboen, 2 Hörner und 2 Fagotte G-Dur Hob II:3
27 Allegro
28 Menuet
29 Andante
30 Menuet
31 Presto

Divertimento für 2 Oboen, 2 Hörner und 2 Fagotte G-Dur Hob deest
32 Allegro
33 Menuet
34 Andante
35 Menuet
36 Presto

Divertimento für 2 Oboen, 2 Hörner und 2 Fagotte D-Dur Hob deest
37 Allegro di molto
38 Menuet
39 Poloneso – Adagio
40 Preso

TT 64:02

Artists

Haydn Ensemble Berlin

Reviews

☞ »Kataloghöhepunkt an Energie und Witz bilden Haydns Feldparthien und Bläser-Divertimenti.« DIE WELT, 5.01.2001