The music of 20th Century composer Pierre Husquenoph this weekend. Not a name many people are familiar with, but a name that was active in French music and broadcasting in the 1950s.
Originally starting a career in Medicine, Husquenoph dropped that in pursuit of a life in musical composition. Entering first the Cesar Franck school in Paris and then entering the Paris Conservatory, where he studied under Darius Milhaud and Jean Rivier. Husquenoph wrote a considerable number of works for a variety of solo instruments as well as Orchestral and Operatic works, beginning in 1949 and ending in 1980.
Shortly after leaving the Conservatoire, Husquenoph was engaged by the ORTF (French Radio broadcasting service) to work in its music broadcast division, becoming head of the Symphonic branch of the network from 1959 until 1973. All the time he was continuing his activities as a composer. The Trumpet Concertino comes from approximately 1960 and features the renowned French Trumpet player Roger Delmotte with the ORTF Chamber Orchestra led by the equally renowned Manuel Rosenthal in this broadcast performance from approximately 1964-1965.
Checking various sources, there appears to be only one recording of any work by Pierre Husquenoph; his Trio for Strings from 1965. Which was originally issued at the time of its premier and is most likely the World Premier of that piece. It has long since been out of print, as the only known recording of that work is on vinyl. There are no recordings whatsoever of this Trumpet Concertino, so it would be a pretty accurate assumption that this radio broadcast of the work is the only known one in existence.
Fascinating discoveries of forgotten music from recent years – further evidence you don’t have to go as far back as the 1700’s to unearth something that’s been largely ignored.
Not an earth-shattering work, nor is it a strain to listen to. But something to be aware of, at least in passing.
