Nocturne et Rondo op. 71/4

Even though the Frankfurt composer Kurt Hessenberg (1908-1994) made a lasting impression, especially by his sacred choral music his career as a composer began with piano, chamber and orchestral music. All his life Hessenberg remained faithful to these genres. Between 1958 and 1963 he wrote five miniatures which he put together into Opus 71 and in which he let the five instruments of a wind quintet have their 'say' separately and with piano accompaniment: flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon. In 1962/63 the composer wrote a solo piece for the horn, 'Nocturne et Rondo', as Op. 71 No. 5. The work starts with an expressive and evocative nocturne before the rondo boldly begins, providing the solo instruments with an enjoyable and funny part, with expressive intermediate sections and a brilliant final 'caccia' section, while the horn and piano try to outdo each other at playing. Written in an extended tonality, as is typical of Hessenberg, this moderately modern 'Nocture et rondo' is an effective piece for both music lessons and concerts.