Allegro from Horn Concerto No 3 for flute quintet

This third movement of Mozart’s French Horn Concerto #3 is a wild romp; yes, even flutes can play fanfares at a gallop! Considered to be his best of four similar horn concertos, Mozart wrote it for a childhood friend who was a virtuoso horn player at the court of Salzburg. In fact, original score margins contained jokes and insults directed to his friend. Playing the orchestral part of this concerto in a crowd-rousing concert with a college friend was my inspiration for this arrangement. The horn solo moves around among the parts, so all have interest, and the interpretation will be strongest with adequate lower flutes. Staccato markings indicate lightness, while the observation of dynamics as indicated will result in proper balance.

Listen