The Wranitzky Project

Arrangements: Haydn Divertimenti

**Title page of Wranitzky's arrangments of Haydn string quartets as published by André.**

Many works were dedicated to Haydn during his lifetime, often by aspiring pupils or colleagues. Mozart's six string quartets and Beethoven's op. 2 sonatas are the best known, but the list includes works by Pleyel, Gyrowetz, Wölfl, Cramer, both the Rombergs, Eberl, Eybler, Hummel, Ries, and many others.

A particularly discrete form of flattery came from Paul Wranitzky in the form of two printed sets of Trois Divertissemens/pour/Deux Violons, Viole, Violoncelle, Flute/Hautbois, deux Cors & Basse , published in 1800 by Johann André. Although these carried no explicit dedication, the title explained that they are "amplifications" of six of Haydn's best-known string quartets, opp. 71 and 74.

Wranitzky expanded the ensemble to nine players by adding flute, oboe, two horns, and double bass, making it one of the larger divertimento scorings for the period.

The musical compliment to Haydn came from within the highest levels of Viennese musical society, and cannot have existed and been published without the approval of Haydn himself. In any case, we know from the assistance that Haydn gave to Wranitzky in proposing his chamber works for publication in London by John Bland that he approved of him as a composer as well as a concert director.

The arrangements are far from slavish: Wranitzky makes enterprising changes, re-allocates music from strings to winds, adds idiomatic parts for the horns, supplements Haydn's markings with additional and different marks of expression, and creates an added element of concertante interplay to suit the new context and ambience. While these texts will be of interest for their reading to players who perform the original quartet versions, this recasting presents them in almost symphonic concert dress and opens them up for larger-scale public performance.

by Christopher Hogwood

Score and parts edited by Christopher Hogwood are available from: