The third movement of Édouard Du Puy's Quintet for Bassoon and Strings, composed by Carl Braun, features a three-and-a-half octave range for the bassoon, twice ascending chromatically to E flat'', which was exceptional for its time.
Critical Reception
Franz Berwald's Quartet in E flat major for Piano and Winds was met with harsh criticism at its 1821 premiere, with one critic describing its dissonances as 'almost completely unbearable'.
Instruments
The Grenser & Wiesner bassoon used in this recording was constructed between 1817 and 1825 and came in its original case with a box of six intact reeds, an incredibly rare and valuable find.
Historical Context
The music on this recording was composed in Stockholm in the early 19th century and performed by the renowned bassoon virtuoso Frans Preumayr, who moved to Sweden from Germany.
Composer Biography
Franz Berwald, a Swedish composer, established a successful orthopedic institute in Berlin, which provided him with financial stability during his nearly two decades abroad.
Composer Biography
Édouard Du Puy, a composer and conductor, was known as the 'Don Juan of the North' due to his charisma and an affair with Crown Princess Charlotte Frederica, which led to his deportation from Stockholm.
Instruments
The Grenser & Wiesner bassoon used on this recording is likely very similar to the 'precious' Grenser bassoon owned by Frans Preumayr, a German bassoon virtuoso active in Sweden.
