By 1850, over eighty arrangements of Beethoven's Second and Fifth Symphonies existed, with an estimated 50,000 printed arrangements of each symphony circulating across Europe.
Recording & Production
This album is a world premiere recording of Hummel's arrangements of Beethoven's Symphonies No. 2 and No. 5 on historical instruments.
Album & Artwork
When these arrangements were published, Hummel's name appeared slightly larger than Beethoven's on the title page, indicating the growing importance of arrangers and piano virtuosos from the 1820s.
Critical Reception
Hummel's arrangements enjoyed a special reputation among contemporary critics, with one 1824 review praising his ability to transform a 'giant symphony of Beethoven's into a piano piece'.
Composer Biography
Johann Nepomuk Hummel, the arranger of these symphonies, was a pupil of Mozart and a close friend of Beethoven until 1816.
Composition History
The unusual scoring for piano with flute, violin, and cello for these arrangements was due to a commission from London publisher Johann Reinhold Schulz, who ordered over 50 works from Hummel for this specific instrumentation.
Historical Context
Chamber arrangements of symphonies became a mass phenomenon in the early 19th century, allowing a new bourgeois class to appropriate works by Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven as symbols of their cultural status.
You might also enjoy...
Brandl: Quintets for Bassoon, Piano and Strings, Vol. 2
Brahms, Weber & Beethoven: Trios
Weber, Farrenc & Kuhlau: Chamber Music
Martha Argerich - Chamber
Passionate Diversions: A Celebration of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
Rendez-vous with Martha Argerich
Nielsen: Chamber Music, Vol. 1
Reger, M: String Trios and Piano Quartets (Complete), Vol. 2 - Piano Quartet, Op. 133 / String Trio, Op. 141B
Beethoven: Clarinet Trios
Beethoven / Ries: Clarinet Trios
Spohr: Quintett in C Minor, Op. 52 & Oktett in E Major, Op. 32
Vintage Viennese
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos.7 & 8 · arr. for Wind Ensemble
