3 movements:
I Allegro con brio
II Adagio
III Rondo. Allegro
Clefs:
Treble, bass
Clefs
Treble, bass
Meters
C, 2/4, 6/8
Key signatures
None (solo in Eb), 2b, 3b (parts)
Range
Solo 1: f1 - c3
Solo 2: F - f2
Horn 1: bb - bb2
Horn 2: Bb - eb2
Horn 3: g - a2
Horn 4: A - eb2
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
One of the few works for this particular combination (two horns and string quartet) the Sextet op.81b is a rare gem in the chamber music repertoire for two horns. It was written some time between 1794 and 1795, and consists of three movements (Allegro con brio, Adagio, Rondo allegro). The manuscript of the first horn part famously reads: “Sextet of mine. God knows where the other parts are”.
Martinet’s arrangement is for two solo horns and horn quartet. The distribution of parts is the common 1-3-2-4 (top to bottom), with almost the whole first violin part in horn 1, second violin in horn 3, viola in horn 2, and violoncello in horn 4. It is pretty much a transcription of the chamber piece (violins a fourth down, cello a fifth up, viola something in between), so there is little to say in this regard.
What has to be noted though is the complete inconsistency in articulation in the tutti parts. Phrases differ between parts, they even differ within the same part (most notably in the Rondo A section, which comes back a couple of times). In addition, quite a few of the dynamics are missing, which is sure to upset the conductor or soloists on a first read-through. As a conservative estimate, at least two dozen mistakes will have to be fixed. On the positive side, the notes are correct, and the arrangement sounds beautiful once fixed up.