Duo no. 10 for two horns, KV 487: Andante

About this work

In Duet no. 10, K. 487, the Andante unfolds through short propositions. One horn establishes the contour while the other illuminates it from below with a few supple notes; soon both partners close the phrase in the same motion. Such economy makes every inflection expressive.
Allow the cadences to breathe
First hear each arrival inwardly, then choose where to breathe without cutting off the next response. A gentle attack must still be precise. In parallel passages, listen to the colour produced by the harmony instead of correcting each part in isolation.
The brief accompanying rhythms deserve a real shape: lead them towards the long note that follows. At repeats, vary the projection or intensity slightly to offer a second perspective without changing the tempo. The whole piece occupies one page, and its sequence can also be heard through the MIDI file.
Han-Wen Nienhuys engraved this version, made available in the public domain by the Mutopia Project. It expands the selection of horn music on LesPartitions.info.