Ferlendis Konzert F major

This booklet contains the Concerto in F major for cor anglais and orchestra, a rare and particularly charming work from the late 18th century. It is available here in a version for cor anglais and piano; the piano reduction is by Alessandro Bares, the edition by PierAngelo Pelucchi. The volume was published by Musedita in the "Alto legno" series, a collection dedicated to the oboe repertoire.

The concerto is attributed to Giuseppe Ferlendis (1755-1810) and is highly interesting not only musically but also in terms of music history. The preface emphasizes that the work reveals an exceptionally precise knowledge of the technical and tonal possibilities of the cor anglais. The solo part is demanding, effective and expressive, with a style of writing that repeatedly puts the instrument in the best light. The unusually long introduction of the first movement, the cantabile and at the same time virtuoso structure as well as the stylistic independence of the work between late Baroque and Viennese Classicism are striking.

The editorial classification is also particularly exciting: the authorship of the concerto is not completely certain, but according to the preface, numerous musical and stylistic features clearly suggest a connection to Giuseppe Ferlendis or his son Alessandro. It is precisely this mixture of rare repertoire, virtuoso solo part and exciting source material that makes this booklet an extremely worthwhile discovery for anyone who wants to experience the cor anglais outside the standard repertoire.

Biographical information on Giuseppe Ferlendis:
Giuseppe Ferlendis was born in Bergamo in 1755 and was one of the most important oboists of his time. He was one of the first musicians to use the cor anglais as a solo instrument. After concert tours through several large Italian cities, he joined the chapel of Salzburg Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo in 1777. There he met Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with whom he became friends; Mozart dedicated his famous oboe concerto K. 314 to him.

Ferlendis enjoyed a high reputation and was so highly regarded as the first oboist that he even received a higher salary than Mozart. After his return to Italy, he worked in Venice at important theaters such as San Samuele, San Benedetto and La Fenice. In 1795, he performed in London together with Joseph Haydn. Haydn expressly praised Ferlendis' playing on the cor anglais and emphasized his sensitive, full and articulate sound. Ferlendis later moved to Lisbon, where he first worked in the royal chapel and then at the Real Câmara. He died around the middle of 1810.