Emma Black, the oboist on this recording, is the principal and solo oboist with the Wiener Akademie (Vienna) and Le Concert de la Loge (Paris).
Composer Biography
Johann Baptist Wanhal, a successful composer born in Bohemia and who died in Vienna, used the burgeoning Viennese publishing industry to gain financial and artistic independence from nobility and clergy.
Instruments
The classical Hautboy, a developed form of the baroque oboe, offered composers new possibilities in the 1770s due to its leaner, more sensitive tone and extended upper range.
Composer Biography
Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of J.S. Bach, had a close and valued relationship with an eight-year-old Mozart during their time in London, influencing the young Mozart's musical development.
Recording & Production
The final piece on this recording, Mozart's Adagio KV 580a, is dedicated to Siegfried Trefflinger, the father of cellist Peter Trefflinger, who passed away during the recording.
Historical Context
The music of the 1770s reflects the Enlightenment's influence, the decline of absolutism, and the rise of the bourgeoisie, which also gained importance in music culture.
Compositional Technique
Around 1770, many quartet compositions were written for a wind player and three strings, with the choice of wind instrument often not clearly specified, allowing for flexibility.
You might also enjoy...
Mozart: Integral Flute Quartets, Clarinet Quintet
Graf: Six Flute Quartets
Mozart: Chamber Music with Winds
Mozart: Flute Quartets No.1-4
Mozart: The Flute Quartets
W. A. Mozart: Flute Quartets - Oboe Quartet
Mozart: Quartets for Flute, Violin and Viola (Live)
