Steingrímur Rohloff's Horn Concerto is a further development of the composers close collaboration with hornist Stefan Dohr. Dohr is principal horn of the Berlin Philharmonic, and in 2022 he was one of the four soloists in Rohloff’s work Concerto Grosso - a work that motivated Dohr to commission a horn concerto from Rohloff.
"Dohr is an instrumentalists that I really love working with," Steingrímur Rohloff says. "I am very interested in going to the extremes of this instrument, and I think there are no limits to what Stefan is willing to try out. He is one of those very curious soloists who likes to be working with new ideas and to challenge his instrument. "
In this collaboration, Rohloff has composed a concerto where the exceptionally virtuosic horn part is set against a rich and diverse sound palette. The orchestra adds layers of unexpected, innovative textures—at times even theatrical in nature. Structured in four movements—slow–fast–slow–fast— its sections gently woven together by shifting tonal scenes.
In the programme note for the concert in Aalborg, Jan Mygind describes the four movements of the piece:
1st movement:
The concerto opens with an animated and fluid soundscape that subtly transforms over time. The horn attempts to find its place and voice. Gradually, the music settles into a more dreamy, lyrical passage led by the horn. Melodic contours are passed around the orchestra, continually generating new colors and sounds.
2nd movement:
The music becomes more rhythmically driven, led by the soloist, who—through rapid note repetitions—demonstrates how a single pitch can resonate in widely different ways. This idea spreads through the orchestra. Midway, the orchestra unfolds into beautiful spreading timbres, whose journey through various instrumental groups evokes memories of the composer Messiaen.
3rd movement:
The orchestra begins the movement with a sonic tapestry for the horn’s beautiful melody, which is infused with jazz elements while simultaneously seeming to guide us on a poetic journey.
4th movement:
In the finale, the tempo intensifies, and the music develops almost like a swing movement with grotesque tones. The virtuosic horn part particularly challenges the English horn and bassoon in breathless passages that push both instruments and musicians to their limits. It all culminates in a mighty battle between orchestra and soloist.
Time and place
- Steingrímur Rohloff: Horn Concerto
- Performed by Stefan Dohr, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and Joshua Weilerstein
- 1 May 19:30, Musikkens Hus, Aalborg, Denmark
- More information here