Antonín Reicha: Octet Op. 96, Variations for Bassoon, Grand Quintetto, Op. 106

Featuring

Vladislav Borovka
Aleš Hustoles
Pavel Langpaul
Vladimíra Klánská
Romana Zieglerová
Vladimír Kroupa

Simona Hečová
Radovan Heč
The Czech Nonet
Anton Reicha

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Composer Biography

Antonín Reicha, a contemporary and friend of Beethoven's and protégé of Haydn's, was born in Prague in 1770 and is considered one of the earliest Czech composers of international rank.

Instruments

The 'Grand Quintetto' for horn and string quartet, Op. 106, was intended to be played on the hand horn, where pitches are adjusted by partially stopping the bell with the hand, rather than using valves.

Compositional Technique

Reicha was appreciated as a virtuoso of counterpoint, and his variation technique resembled that of middle and late Haydn, where themes retain their character while gaining astonishing dimensions through new instrumental colors and counterpoints.

Performer Biography

The Czech Nonet, founded in 1924 by Prague Conservatory students, is one of the oldest and most original chamber ensembles in the world, having inspired nearly 300 works by major composers.

Historical Context

In the early 19th century, Reicha was considered a specialist composer for woodwinds, similar to Danzi, and his Octet was known to Franz Schubert.

Compositional Technique

Reicha employed melodic models from his native folk music but clothed them in the forms of the Classical style, using neat phrase-lengths, plainer rhythms, and diatonic harmony.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Reicha, an early Romantic, celebrated music as a 'beautiful art intended to charm the soul and bring peace to the heart' and emphasized the importance of incorporating folk music.