Franz Strauss

Concerto for Horn No. 1

Though now more famous as the father of Richard Strauss, Franz Strauss was a very well-known horn player with a well-documented reputation for being both musically conservative and difficult to work with. Franz's musical aesthetics held up Mozart and Beethoven as the ultimate models, and his dislike for Wagner was no secret. He was, however, one of the most gifted and musical horn players of the day, so much of the time his rather stubborn personality and abrasiveness were tolerated.
Unlike his son's concertos, which showcase amazing feats of technique on the instrument, Franz's 1865 contribution to the genre challenges the player's sense of musicality, tone, intonation, and melodic phrasing. The thematic material is not shared as much in this concerto as other concerto forms. As a result, the importance of the solo horn is always held primary. Some of the leaps and runs no doubt inspired his son, who became rather notorious among horn players for writing very challenging horn parts in his own work - certainly a trait passed from father to son. Franz Strauss composed this concerto in 1865 and was also the soloist at the première in München the same year. Slovenian arranger Gregor Kovacic transcribed this concerto for horn with accompaniment of a Symphonic Band.