1
Adagio and Allegro for horn and piano Op 70[9’09]Richard Watkins (horn), Ian Brown (piano)
Märchenbilder Op 113[15’05]Lawrence Power (viola), Ian Brown (piano)
2
Nicht schnell[3’23]3
Lebhaft[4’04]4
Rasch[2’35]5
Langsam, mit melancholischem Ausdruck[5’03]Fantasiestücke Op 73[10’30]Richard Hosford (clarinet), Ian Brown (piano)
6
Zart und mit Ausdruck[3’15]7
Lebhaft, leicht[3’17]8
Rasch und mit Feuer[3’58]Märchenerzählungen Op 132[15’44]Richard Hosford (clarinet), Lawrence Power (viola), Ian Brown (piano)
9
Lebhaft, nicht zu schnell[3’03]10
Lebhaft und sehr markiert[3’14]11
Ruhiges Tempo, mit zartem Ausdruck[4’38]12
Lebhaft, sehr markiert[4’49]Drei Romanzen for oboe and piano Op 94[11’56]Gareth Hulse (oboe), Ian Brown (piano)
13
Nicht schnell[3’17]14
Einfach, innig – Etwas lebhafter[4’06]15
Nicht schnell[4’33]Violin Sonata No 1 in A minor Op 105[16’48]Marianne Thorsen (violin), Ian Brown (piano)
16
Mit leidenschaftlichem Ausdruck[8’00]17
Allegretto[3’43]18
Lebhaft[5’05]
Among Schumann’s inspired late chamber works is a collection of music for more unusual instruments, composed in a concentrated flurry of creativity between 1849 and 1853 and written specifically for particular players, and it is to these exquisite short works that the world-famous Nash Ensemble turns its impeccable collective musicianship.
While Schumann modelled his music specifically to the timbres of the instruments he wrote for—piano, violin, horn, clarinet and oboe—he also arranged these pieces for alternative instruments with an eye to maximizing sales. Here, however, the soloists from The Nash Ensemble present the works in their original scoring in what are bound to be definitive performances—the delicious Fantasiestücke for clarinet, and the fiery and lyrical Märchenbilder, which feature star British viola player Lawrence Power. Other delights include the Adagio and Allegro for horn, a brilliant showpiece, the Violin Sonata No 1, Drei Romanzen for oboe and piano and the Märchenerzählungen for clarinet, viola and piano.