Harmoniemusik 101

Harmoniemusik is so much fun!  Composed for wind band, these works are often obscure masterpieces by recognized masters.  This week will feature such works by Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart.  18th century European courts saw a transition in how musicians were employed, thus how music was composed.  

Having a standing orchestra has always been expensive.  Good musicians cost money and employing many means paying much.  The established string orchestra eventually invited the wind section, or harmonie section, into its roster for harmonic support.  After some time, in order to save money in a shrinking economy, it became necessary to reduce expenditures and many court orchestras were cut down.  In the end, it was the harmonie section that remained.

Though Haydn had fantastic court orchestra at his disposal of about 16 musicians at the Court of Esterhazy he brought with him a style of windband music that he first established at his previous post for Count Morzin in Vienna.  Count Morzin employed a small orchestra, which included a fantastic wind sextet (pairs of oboes, bassoons, and two amazing horn players).  Haydn composed incredible music for this band of winds.  This is music sans strings with only the harmonie winds, harmoniemusik!

This week's Omaha Consort concert will feature two harmonie works by Haydn.  One was composed while employed by Count Morzin and another while enjoying his new post with Esterhazy's legendary wind players.  Also on the program is an early work by Beethoven for oboe, bassoon, and three horns.  The second movement is a miracle featuring beautifully long phrases that display the lyrical power that's possible with windband.  The program concludes with Mozart's 14th Divertimento for wind sextet.  This was composed while Mozart was still employed in his home town, Salzburg, by Archbishop Colloredo.  It is composed in a style known as hautboistenmusik, music that features pairs of oboes, bassoons, and horns with the principal oboist carrying most of the virtuosic melodic material.  

Our oboist, Alexandra Rock, is sounding great this week in rehearsals and will blow you away on Thursday, November 8 @ Joslyn Castle; 7p.  Doors open at 6p, pre-concert talk at 6:30p.  Come experience these amazing works at arms-length distance with our fantastic musicians:

Alexandra Rock, oboe

Robert Jenkins, oboe

James Compton, bassoon

Bill Ritchie, bass

Ross Snyder, horn

Larry Siegler, horn

and myself, Jason DeWater, horn and MC.

I look forward to seeing our family of friends again this season.  Please join us and see for yourself how the Omaha Consort thrills an audience.  It's music in the proper glass, as always, and I can't wait to see all of you at "Harmoniemusik 101".