Ferdinand Hiller

[tpaloj]

Thank you friends! One reason I enjoy transcribing Hiller's music is because of the ease of means in his orchestration. Just so many or just so few instruments are employed as the music calls for (often enough). Perhaps sometimes less inspired than many of his peers were, he was still an outstanding musician with a large amount of good music still waiting to be given new chances.

Incidentally, Tuomas, do you have any more news on the possible recording of Hiller's VC?

No unfortunately not. I hope it's proceeding, but I haven't heard or asked of it lately.

[tpaloj]

Here is a reproduction of Hiller's first Concert-Overture, op.32. Composed and revised over several years in the mid-to-late 1830s, it was eventually published in 1844. It's a quirky piece based on a persistent three-note ostinato, with softer melodic sections in between its more hot-headed fanfares. I couldn't find a full score of it online, so I put the piece together from a digitized set of published parts from 1844.

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/IxMXvNztmlQ

Hiller gives an anecdote to the overture's initial, later discarded subtitle in his book "Mendelssohn: Letters and Recollections":

I had given my first Concert Overture in D minor ... the title of "Overture to the Old Drama of Fernando;" this brought about the expressions "Old Drama," and the like, which we shall find often repeated [referring to how Mendelssohn tended to address Hiller as "Old Drama" in their letters for a time]. When [the overture] was published I omitted the title, as it referred to a drama which is only now by degrees becoming an old one.

For further reading, there is also a detailed report written by Mendelssohn to Hiller about the overture and a performance of it in 1837 in this book (see pages 82-86).

[Alan Howe]

This is, it seems to me, a very strong piece - memorable thematically, varied in texture and powerful in utterance. We need a lot more recordings of orchestral works by Hiller.  Much appreciated, Tuomas!

[eschiss1]

Re Hiller's Op.32: the Ries & Erler 2021 publication advertises itself as the "Erstfassung", meaning I assume the first score publication. (Similarly with another Op.32 also edited by Bert Hagels - Spohr's - that also only was published in parts hitherto.)  So- yup.

[Alan Howe]

'Erstfassung' means 'First Version'.

[eschiss1]

The lengthier description on Worldcat of the Ries score says "Includes the revised version based on the first printed edition (1844) of the Ouverture de concert, and the first version (Ouvertüre zum alten Drama "Fernando") based on the autograph score (shelfmark: MS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn c. 82) preserved in the Bodleian Library, Oxford
Preface and critical report in German".

[Mark Thomas]

It's a great piece - an object lesson in a composer having an idea, executing it expertly, with focus and no padding. Thanks very much Tuomas for continuing to add to our appreciation of Hiller, still woefully neglected apart from your efforts.

[Ilja]

Considering his importance and influence, arguably the most egregious case of the neglect of a major composer. And this piece goes some way in making clear why his music needs more exposure. Many thanks to Tuomas!