Octet (arr Byrd)

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (adapt. Josh Byrd)

General Info

Year: 1792 / 1834 (op. 103) / 2020 (op. 103b)
Duration: c. 29:15
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Maestro and Fox
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $77.00

Movements

1. Allegro - 9:55
2. Andante - 6:45
3. Menuetto - 6:05
4. Presto - 5:25

Instrumentation

Full Score
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
Horn in F I-II

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Octet for Winds, Op. 103b (1795) serves as a revision from his 1792 octet written in Bonn, Germany. The original Octet in E-flat Major is a work for two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, and two horns. He reworked and expanded the material of the Octet in Vienna of 1795 as his first S'tring Quintet, Op. 4. The overall forms of the original movements are expanded by use of compositional devices (excepting the addition of a second trio in the third movement).

It is this expansion, particularly through motivic development, that is most remarkable. New harmonies challenge the ear. Organicism pervades the movements. The current edition allows wind musicians to experience the original harmoniemusik in a new way, with great depth, energy, and connectivity. Josh Byrd, director of bands at the University of West Georgia, adapted Beethoven’s expanded string quintet version for the original octet instrumentation.

- Program Note from University of North Texas Wind Orchestra concert program, 1 April 2021

The Octet in E-flat major by Ludwig van Beethoven, Op. 103, is a work for two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, and two horns. Beethoven wrote the work in 1792 in Bonn before he established himself in Vienna. He reworked and expanded the Octet in 1795 as his first String Quintet, Op. 4. The Octet was not published until 1834 by Artaria, thus explaining the high opus number despite its date of composition.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Commercial Discography

None discovered thus far.

Media Links

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• University of North Texas (Denton) Wind Orchestra (Andrew Trachsel, conductor) - 1 April 2021

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

• Allegretto (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Longfield) (1812/2011)
• Europa (Flex instrumentation) (with Charpentier; arr. Haan) (2009)
• The Great Beethoven Bonanza (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Jones) (2015)
• March of the Guards (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Glover) (1805/2019)
• Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation (arr. Brand) (1824/2000(?))
• Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Fisher) (1824/2018)
• Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1824/2020)
• Symphony No. 5 in C Minor (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1804-1808/2014)
• Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral" Selections (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kanayama) (1808/)
• Variations on a Motive of Beethoven (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (1826/2020)

All Wind Works

• Allegretto (ar. Longfield) (1812/2011)
• Allegretto (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Longfield) (1812/2011)
• The Allegretto from Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 (arr. Evans) (1812/2013)
• Coriolan Overture (tr. Hanna)
• Drei zapfenstreiche
• Écossaise for Military Band (arr. Stalter) (1810/2015)
• Egmont Overture (arr. Winterbottom) (1810/1924)
• Egmont Overture (tr. Hindsley) (1810/197-?)
• Egmont Overture (tr. McLain) (1810/12015)
• Egmont Overture (arr. Tobani) (1810/1900)
• Eroica (arr. Ripley) (1804/1900)
• Europa (Flex instrumentation) (with Charpentier; arr. Haan) (2009)
• The European Anthem (arr. Karajan) (1824/1972)
• Finale to "Symphony No. 5" (arr. Isaac) (1804-1808/1965)
• Finale to "Symphony No. 5" (adapt. Longfield) (1804-1808/2020)
• First and Second Movements from Symphony No. 5 in C minor (arr. Godfrey) (1804-1808/1921)
• Five Short Pieces for Wind Ensemble (arr. Reynolds) (1975)
• For Elise (arr. Long) (1810/1992)
• Für Elise (arr. Hautvast) (1810/2020)
• Für Elise (arr. Korson) (1810/1867/20--?)
• Grand Serenade (arr. Crusell; ed. Rogers) (1800/2004)
• The Great Beethoven Bonanza (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Jones) (2015)
• The Heavens Resound
• Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (arr. Kirkland)
• Leonore Overture No. 3 (tr. Hindsley) (1806/197-?)
• Marcia alla Turca (arr. Rondeau) (1809/2011)
• March in B-flat. See: Marsch
• March in F (arr. Dunnigan) (1809/1995)
• March of the Guards (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Glover) (1805/2019)
• Marsch (c. 1798/1865)
• Military March (Beethoven) (adapt. Greissle) (1945)
• Military March in D (ed. Bourgeois) (1816/2003)
• Octet (1792/1834)
• Octet (arr. Byrd) (1792/1834/2021)
• Ode to Joy (arr. Barrett) (1824/1965/1995)
• Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1824/2000(?))
• Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Fisher) (1824/2018)
• Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1824/2020)
• Overture to "Fidelio" (arr. Sedlak)
• Piano Concerto No. 1 (arr. Odom) (1795/2019)
• Presto from "Symphony No. 7" (tr. Thompson) (1811/2018)
• Prometheus Overture (arr. Barnes) (1801/1963)
• Prometheus Overture (arr. Slocum) (1801/1987)
• Quintet in E-flat Major, Op 16
• Rocking 4 Elise (arr. Berger) (1810/2014)
• Rondino (1793/195-?)
• Scherzo and Finale from the Fifth Symphony (arr. Godfrey) (1804-1808/1920)
• Scherzo from "Symphony No 9" (arr. Bocook) (1824/2004)
• Sextet (1796)
• Siegess­in­fonie
• Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Mvt. 1 (arr. Yu) (1800/2014?)
• Symphony No. 1 Op. 21 (tr. Schmitt; ed. Marlow) (1800/1817/2007)
• Symphony No. 3 (tr. Moehlmann; ed. Rogers) (1804/2020)
• Symphony No. 5 in C minor (arr. Godfrey)
  • First and Second Movements (arr. Godfrey). See: First and Second Movements from Symphony No. 5 in C minor
  • Third and Fourth Movements (arr. Godfrey). See: Scherzo and Finale from the Fifth Symphony
• Symphony No. 5 in C Minor (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1804-1808/2014)
• Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral" Selections (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kanayama) (1808/)
• Symphony No. 7 (arr. Wedlak) (1812/1989?)
• Symphony No. 9 (tr. Vives) (1822-1824/2013)
• Three Equale
• Turkish March (arr. Curnow) (1809/2001)
• Variations on a Motive of Beethoven (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (1826/2020)
• The Yorck Marche. See: March in F

Resources

• Josh Boyd, personal correspondence, April 2021
• Octet (Beethoven), Wikipedia Accessed 2 April 2021
• Perusal score