Mozart / Horn Quintet in E-flat major, K. 407 (Timothy Brown)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Horn Quintet in E-flat major, K. 407/386c (1782)
00:00 - Allegro
06:22 - Andante
13:50 - Allegro
Performed by members of the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble (1980).
Horn - Timothy Brown
Violin - Iona Brown
Viola I - Stephen Shingles
Viola II - Anthony Jenkins
Violoncello - Denis Vigay
"The Horn Quintet K. 407 is more of a concerto 'en miniature' than a chamber work. Remarkably, the string quartet contains not two violins but two violas, and functions principally as an accompaniment, whilst the horn provides the distinctive colouring. The two outer movements, like most of Mozart's music for Leutgeb, are humorous in character, particularly the rondo finale, which opens with a jovial fanfare theme. As in the horn concertos the limited possibilities of the natural horn are exploited wittily and skilfully; even cadenzas are provided for. In contrast to the outer movements, the Andante has a lyrical, cantabile quality. The violin becomes independent and performs a duet with the horn." - Alfred Beaujean (trans. Joanne Poole)
Painting: A Courtesan (Smiling Girl Holding an Obscene Image), Gerard van Honthorst

[@yvessanleythimothee6332]

Mozart, the king of perfect dialogue between instruments.

[@ironmaz1]

one of my favourite hidden gems! as elegant as a garden of earthly delights can get (the 10 second stretto before the end is exquisite)

[@malik7818]

the horn has the most beautiful sound

[@marileneguimaraes9319]

Amo Mozart.......!!!!!!!!!!!

[@horiaganescu3948]

An excellent performance and recording... Mozart at his best...

[@EzequielOsorioHello]

Beautiful. Thank you!!!

[@dejanstevanic5408]

Nice. TY

[@brianknapp8645]

Sublime!

[@alexanderlohmann4675]

clicked for dat thumbnail lmao

[@auvillars]

magnifique !

[@justomasaya2698]

Esta obra es un sueño hecho realidad gracias por compartir

[@TheMahler1896]

Thanks for upload!

[@_PROCLUS]

Thank you very much for the wonderful upload

[@amirshraga6548]

!!!excellent

[@roycezaro1998]

Dank!

[@gerardbegni2806]

The horn limits the range and above all the style of melodies, since it is limited to the natural harmonics of its fundamental sound. Mozart compensates it by a dialog with the strings. Note that there is only one violin but two violas. Mozart did his best with this set of instruments. In particular, the slow movement is a masterwork in handling the limitations of the instrument.

[@patriciayeiser6405]

Mozart was a violist, as well as a keyboard player.

[@ignacioclerici5341]

@@patriciayeiser6405 violinist

[@1janak362]

@@ignacioclerici5341 No. A violist. Ms. Yeiser is correct.

[@ignacioclerici5341]

@@1janak362 no, he played the violín, not the viola.

[@akitten12]

oh my god, that face.

[@William65536]

I'm sure Mozart would have found this painting uproarious.

[@patriciayeiser6405]

The British horn player, Dennis Brain, was too clever by half. He once attached a mouthpiece to a garden hose and played Mozart. (I think it was Mozart.) He alas died in a car crash. He loved fast driving and was dashing back to London when he lost control. He was very young.

[@lazyfreedom98]

Space Mutant Hatched

[@mtv565]

By the way, 1 thumb down for this performance. The horn is too legato, even in the fast movements requiring staccato at times.

[@patriciayeiser6405]

Are you a critic or just trying to call attention to yourself. Because - don't.

[@TeleNikon]

@@patriciayeiser6405 -I'm glad mmm commented as they did. I was feeling the same way and was wondering if anyone posted on the topic here in the comments. mmm did! I totally get it. Too legato. Perhaps he was directed to play in that manner.