Alexander Glasunow

Chant du Ménestrel

Russian composer Alexandre Glazunov composed this work in 1900 originally as a solo work for cello and piano but also for cello and orchestra. It is an occasional work for a fellow teacher (Alexandre Wierzbilowicz) at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. In addition to an edition with cello as a solo instrument, Glazunov has also given his approval for an edition for horn with accompaniment by piano and/or orchestra.

It was most certainly not Glazunov's intention to give voice to a medieval minstrel or troubadour, it has become a sonorous cello/horn cantilena in optima forma in a simple three-part song form (A-B-A). The orchestra is not limited to simply accompanying the soloist, but also imitates some of the soloist's motifs and develops countermelodies. A wonderful opportunity to put your horn soloist in the spotlight!

This composition was created with the help of a contribution from the Music Investment Fund, an initiative of Buma/Stemra in cooperation with Voi(C)e, the Copyright Interests Federation and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in the Netherlands.