Heinrich Hofmann - Serenade for flute and strings, Op.65 (1883)

Heinrich Karl Johann Hofmann (13 January 1842, Berlin - 16 July 1902, Groß-Tabarz, present-day Thuringia) was a German composer and pianist.
Work: Serenade for flute and strings, Op.65 (1883)
Mov.I: Allegro con moto 00:00
Mov.II: Andante tranquillo 06:14
Mov.III: Allegro vivace 12:36
Mov.IV: Allegro vivo - Presto appassionata 16:29
Flute: John Wion
Violins: Guy Lumia & Regis Iandorio
Viola: Hugh Loughran
Leshek Zawistowski
Double bass: Neoyuki Miura
A performance at the Newport Chamber Music Festival 1974 in the Gold Room of Marble House

[@barrymalkin9031]

My goodness, had I turned on the radio unaware I would have sworn this was an early work of Richard Strauss. Thank you and Mr. Wion for introducing me to this energetic chamber piece from a composer I was previously unaware of.

[@johnwion]

Glad you liked it.

[@KuhlauDilfeng2]

This work was sent to me by John Wion. Please visit his channel.

[@borisbrinkmann]

It's a pity that there are only recordings of the chamber version, as far as I can see. I think the composer knows what he does when declaring it "for string orchestra and flute" (in this order! It's not a solo instrument) "...or solo solo sextet".

[@johnwion]

In my opinion the flute is integrated into the string texture. It is not a flute concerto and I truly don't think it would work as well with string orchestra. I would certainly like to hear the version however.

[@borisbrinkmann]

@@johnwion I absolutely agree. In your recording it seem to work quite well. I remember another recording on youtube (with video) with only the strings sitting in a half circle and the flutist like a soloist in front... That gives the wrong idea.
I just wondered why the composer explicitely mentioned "string orchestra" in the title... Maybe it would be interesting, if the flutist also is seated in the back (where normally the wind section is placed). Maybe the "non-soloist-character" would be even more obvious because of the greater distance...
But the intimicy of a chamber work anyway works well.
Greetings from Graz/Austria.

[@johnwion]

@@borisbrinkmann FYI (from the liner notes I wrote for the LP) "was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic Club, an ensemble of German-trained, New York-based musicians, consisting of flute (Eugene Weiner), two violins, viola, cello and bass. ... premiered March 10, 1885." Their concerts included flute concertos (one string on each part of course) and guest artists.