When the A E Fischer collection of 52 pieces Solo Buch f�r Waldhorn, published in Bremen in 1898, first came into my hands years ago, many questions arose in my mind.Why do I not know most of this music? Who are these composers? Who play�ed these pieces, on which instruments and in which venues? How was it interpreted by the musicians and received by the audience?
Through research, many of these questions were answered in detail in the text of the booklet for the first volume of this series; Salonmusik f�r Waldhorn Vol I, released with Arcantus in October 2020 (ARC20017).
As a music editor, A.E. Fischer was to promote music and supply copies of popular repertoire in ori�ginal and arrangements so that they could be played by professionals in salons or by amateurs for their own enjoyment at home.
Fischer edited solo books for trombone, clarinet and flute in the same format as the horn collection (with varying degrees of diffi�culty but no accompaniments), enticing musicians to order music. Arrangers were hired to provide these works, notably Moritz Carl, whom I knew only as M. Carl when the first CD was released.
Fischer had a central role in the music life of Bremen, providing instruments, their accessories and music for all levels of performers.. They range from cheaply made band instruments, shiny nickel-plated high-quality military horns to the ex�quisite rotary-valve horn in F, made by renown Viennese instrument maker Leopold Uhlmann, which was used both on this CD, and Salonmusik f�r Waldhorn Vol. I.
Music was an important element in 19th century education and social life, the salons providing a platform where adept performers showed off their skills and female performers could bare their souls, whether looking for a solo career or a life partner.
This quintessential 19th century shared wish of per�formers and audiences to experience music deeply with all the inherent emotions hidden in sound, was the inspiration for our musical interpretation on this recording.
Considering the reduction of the sound spectrum, musical expression and rhythm through today's electronics, the transference of expressive sound becomes so much more precious.
REN�E ALLEN, French horn
