Backstage / Listening Guides / Strauss Horn Concerto No1

Listening Guide

Horn Concerto No.1 in E flat, Opus 11

Composed in 1882 when Strauss was only 18, probably for his virtuoso father to perform.

Listening points

• The 3 movements (fast-slow-fast) are played attaca.
• Strauss uses the horn in a melodic way, letting it sing out over the orchestra.
• Although the piece is relatively short (only 15 minutes) it has expansive gestures and phrases, which give it a much larger feel.

Movement I: Allegro 4/4

• The solo horn comes in almost immediately adding to its grand presence.
• Strauss uses lots of dotted rhythms and triplet motifs in this movement.

Movement II: Andante 3/8

• The accompaniment is mainly pianissimo.
• The horn has duets with the clarinet and bassoon.
• The central section is in a major key using pizzicato strings.

Movement III: Allegro 6/8

• There is a short intro in 4/4 before the music kicks off into a bouncy 6/8.
• The lively feel to this movement is partly achieved by the use of staccato melodies.
• The use of syncopation in the accompanying strings drives the music forward

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RICHARD STRAUSS 1864 – 1949

• German composer and conductor, who lived through two world wars.
• Strauss’s father was a professional orchestral horn player, which was a great inspiration for Strauss. He began piano lessons aged 4 and wrote his first compositions at the age of 6!
• Strauss was greatly influenced by the composers Berlioz, Liszt and Wagner, as well as philosophy and psychology.
• Strauss was deeply interested in human psychology, which is portrayed in his music.
• Strauss’s work is classified as late romantic music and was popular throughout his lifetime.