Oslo kammerakademi - Beethoven for Wind Octet (2012)

Oslo Kammerakademi, led by Oslo Philharmonic solo oboist, David Friedemann Strunck, presents on its debut CD chamber music by Beethoven for wind octet. This repertoire ranges from the “Storm and Stress” compositions of the young Beethoven to the mature Beethoven’s Symphony no. 7 transcribed for wind octet with double bass. Beethoven’s music for this instrumentation, together with Mozart’s serenades, forms the core repertoire for wind octet or “Harmoniemusik”, as the ensembles were called in that period. Harmony music was the fashionable chamber music of the day. Thus one can find an abundance of transcribed material along with the composed repertoire.

When Beethoven’s Symphony no. 7 was published in 1816, it was hardly surprising that the favourable critical reception of early performances would result in publications of the work in other instrumentations. Beethoven himself rewrote the orchestral score for piano, and although everything suggests that he gave his consent to the numerous publications of the work, it is unclear who wrote all the other transcriptions. Oslo Kammerakademi shows on this recording what it is best known for - virtuoso and passionate playing combined with historically informed performance practice.