Ludwig Thuille was a talented young man who was orphaned at age 11 and grew up with his step-uncle.  He studied piano, organ, and violin and excelled at all three.  He traveled to Innsbruck, Austria to further his training at age 15.  It was there that he met the young Richard Strauss, and the two started a friendship that lasted for Thuille’s lifetime.  Thuille made a living as a Music Theory Professor and was a prolific composer of operas, and chamber music, plus a symphony, and a piano concerto.  He is remembered for some of his operas and the Sextet on this program.  

The Sextet was composed in 1888, and its premiere was arranged by Strauss, who was impressed with the work.  There is nothing provocative about the work, it is simply beautiful well-composed music.  The expansive first movement is nearly as long as the remaining three movements.  The horn begins this movement with an austere sounding solo.  What follows is rather gentile and expansive.  The lovely Larghetto also begins with a horn solo and features each of the other wind instruments in turn in lovely solos with the piano providing the harmonic support.  The third movement is a Gavotte, but not of the Baroque variety.  However, it certainly dances in a spritely manner.  The finale is quicker and more climactic than its predecessors.