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A number of years ago, when I was engaged in assembling a list of Henri Brod's (1799-1839) works for the Double Reed, the oboist Ronald Richards sent me parts published during 19th-century of a concerto by Brod which was unknown to me. This is a scena style work for oboe, bassoon, valved trumpet, and string orchestra. This Fantaisie in G includes two sections, a cavatina and a cabaletta, the latter being laid out as a theme with 5 variations. Each of the three solo instruments gets one variation, followed by one for solo violin, and a grand finale variation for the entire ensemble.

The music, itself, is of the light variety heard in the opéra comique of the day. I would say it is comparable to the short pieces that Leroy Anderson composed for the Boston Pops Orchestra in the mid 20th century. Considering the fact that Brod died in 1839, the Fantaisie in G would stand at the beginning of French instrumental popular music.

As a concerto including both oboe and bassoon, this work is of much interest to double reed players. Also, one must not overlook the fact that the valved trumpet in G was certainly a novelty in the early Romantic Era: and it does get quite a workout with both double and triple tonguing. I have included an alternate part for the Bb trumpet in order to make this work accessible to all trumpet players.

The frontispiece to this work is missing from the Bologna copy that Ron sent me. In addition, the orchestra parts are missing. A piano reduction for the strings is included in the set, but it does not include the solo parts above the score. On the other hand, the score does indicate orchestral tuttis and the like.