Suite in B flat for 13 Wind Instruments, Op. 4 [Alf:36-A616401]

Hans von Bĵlow commissioned the Suite in Bb for thirteen instruments, Op. 4, from Richard Strauss (1864-1949) and the work premiered on November 18, 1884 in Munich, with the composer conducting the Meiningen Orchestra. The commission came about after von Bĵlow met and conducted the young composer's Serenade in Eb for thirteen instruments, Op. 7 (1881), and requested another piece with the same instrumentation. The premiere of the Suite, and the fact that Strauss conducted it, was a major contributor to the young man's musical career. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2+CtrBsn (or Tuba): 4.0.0.0. Movements: I. Praeludium, II. Romanze, III. Gavotte, and IV. Introduction und Fuge.