Review of Chopin "Four mazurkas, Opus 6" arranged for Double Reed Quartet.
Review by Ron Klimko, Bassoon Editor, International Double Reed Society. Review appeared in THE DOUBLE REED, Vol. 22, No. 2, 1999.
This is a beautiful edition for mixed double reed ensemble by Phil Freihofner - well arranged and beautifully engraved similar to his arrangement of the Bach Italian Concerto reviewed in an earlier Double Reed. These works are from the 1830 mazurkas by Chopin which were his first to be published. They are mostly in ternary form, except for the very short #4 which is in a rounded binary form. The editorial notes in the frontispiece are very helpful as the following quotation shows. "The first edition metronome markings are included. Given the rich texture of a double reed ensemble, slightly slower tempos may be preferred."
The principal oboe carries the heaviest technical burden in these arrangements, although its highest note is only e3 [there's a g3 in the 3rd mvmt]. The works, however, would require a fairly advanced ensemble to realize the musical demands of bel canto and rubato which the music would demand. Also, the original keys are retained [actually they were transposed up a m3rd - pf], including the 4th mazurka in f# minor. Overall I would rate the works a III- in difficulty and recommend them strongly for any advanced double reed ensemble.
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