| Concerto in E Flat Major | |
|---|---|
| by Johann Baptist Wanhal | |
 The composer | |
| Key | E-Flat Major |
| Period | Classical |
| Composed | 1773 |
| Duration | 20 minutes |
| Movements | 3 |
| Scoring | Double Bass and Orchestra |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 1969 |
| Location | Vienna |
Concerto for Double Bass in E Flat Major is a work for double bass and orchestra by Johann Baptist Wanhal. [1] The piece runs approximately 20 minutes.
Wanhal's concerto is dated as the third major double bass concerto, behind Haydn's lost concerto, and Dittersdorf's concerto. The date of the work's composition is not known, but it is speculated to have been finished in 1773. No original manuscripts have been found in Wanhal's handwriting, but a version by an unknown copyist was found in the estate of bassist Johann Matthias Sperger. It is speculated that Sperger was the composer's intended performer of the concerto. [2] [3]
The concerto was originally written in the key of E flat major for basses tuned in the standard Viennese tuning (A,F#,D,A,F) of the time. In modern performances, the work is transposed down a semi tone to E major or three semi tones to D major. [2]
In typical concerto form, the work contains three movements: [4]
A concerto is, from the late Baroque era, mostly understood as an instrumental composition, written for one or more soloists accompanied by an orchestra or other ensemble. The typical three-movement structure, a slow movement preceded and followed by fast movements, became a standard from the early 18th century.
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The Symphony in E-flat Major, Opus 33 by the Viennese composer Anton Eberl (1765-1807) was written during the course of 1803. The premiere took place in Vienna, Austria on January 6, 1804. Also, at the same concert Eberl premiered his Piano Concerto in E-flat, Op. 40, and his Concerto for Two Pianos in B-flat, Op. 45. It is classical in style. The performance time is about 30 minutes. It is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings. The work was dedicated by Eberl to Prince Lobkowitz, or Le Prince Regnant De Lobkowitz.
The Symphony in D minor, Opus 34 by the Viennese composer Anton Eberl (1765-1807) was written during the course of 1804. The premiere took place in Vienna, Austria on January 25, 1805. It is classical in style. The performance time is about 30 minutes. It is scored for 2 clarinets, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings.
Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B Minor is a work for double bass and orchestra by Giovanni Bottesini. The piece runs approximately 20 minutes.
