Wanhal, Johann Baptist (1739-1813)

The symphonies of Johann Baptist Wanhal (1739-1813), one of the most prolific and important of Haydns Viennese contemporaries, are among the most important works of their kind from the late-18th century. Bold and imaginative, powerful and lyrical, Wanhals symphonies are only now beginning to win wider recognition as the masterpieces they are. Wanhal obviously considered the commission for the Sinfonia d2 (ca 1773-1774) to be an important one and lavished great care on its composition. Its highly unusual scoring calls for five horns and also includes an elaborate oboe solo in the concerto-like central movement. The outer movements are clearly meant to feature the five horns and, together with the two oboes, they fill in the harmony of the wind choir, and indeed, carefully complement the entire orchestra. The result is a uniquely rich orchestral timbre, especially in the tonic-key portions of the first and last movements where full harmony is achieved. Allan Badley