Brahms Horntrio op.40 (compared period and modern Instruments)

[fahl5]

OK Brahms Horntrio op.40 is no hidden treasure. It is a wellknow jewel from chambermusic repertoire. Nevertheless Brahms explicitly asks for a natural horn and not the modern horn which was at his time already well established, there are not so mch ensembles among its interprets which played it consequently on "period instruments".

With the natural horns in Historic Winds III we are able to 😊 to complete the period-ensemble I choose the 1873 Erard-Grandpiano from realsamples which fits with his very warm tone very good to the gentle tone of the natural horn.

Brahms Horntrio op.40 on period instruments (Violin, Natural Horn in Eb, Erard-Grandpiano 1873)

Again I cant resist to give our modern instruments their chance and rendered a parallel-recording with the a bit lighter Vienese horn and the much brighter Bösendorfer Imperial. However I love the often surprising results of period instruments, I am at the same time still convinced, that the development of musical instruments has enriched the abilities and the sound of the modern available instruments and so they might offer different colours and musical potential we still can and may ake use of.

Brahms Horntrio op.40 onmodern Instruments (Violin, Vienese Horn, Bösendorfer Imperial 290-755)

I hope you like it.

[jasensmith]

I don't know. Far be it for me to differ with Master Brahms but I think I like the modern rendition a little better. The natural horn just seems a wee bit harsh to my ears where as the Viennese Horn has a more mellow sound to it. Either way it's still a beautiful piece. Very nice work with the programming BTW; realistic to the point of sounding natural.