Concert piece for 4 horns and orchestra F major Op. 86

When Robert Schumann composed his concert piece for four horns and a large orchestra in 1849, the valve horn had only existed for thirty-five years, and while at that time some composers still resisted this technical innovation, Schumann raved about it. The year 1849 was an exceptionally fruitful year for Schumann himself and in addition to composing a number of new works with a wealth of ideas, he also succeeded in creating an exceptional litter for those days including this concert piece. This type of solo concert was rather rare in Schumann’s time and can certainly be considered as an experiment, yet this composition is inspired by the Concerto Grosso tradition of bygone eras.