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In this Parthia by Josef Reicha (1752-1795), the designation Dis (D# major) refers obliquely to the key of Eb major. The source I utilized comes from the Öttingen-Wallerstein collection, and includes both the autograph score and a set of parts. The latter is filled with inconsistencies in articulation, plus a gap of four measures within oboe part of the first movement. Obviously, these parts were never played from. Despite the problems I encountered, we have before us outstanding piece of Harmonie-musik.

The horn parts require hand-horn technique which was a specialty of the players at Wallerstein. Also, in the second movement in Bb major and in the Bb major trio of the third movement, Eb crooks are maintained: the horn parts are written in G major but without a key signature. The result is that they sound in Bb major.

The movements of the overall work are four in number: a slow introduction sets the first movement sonata-form into motion. This is followed by a wonderful slow aria (Largo) which is twice interrupted by a jocular Allegretto. The two remaining movements are, as expected, a minuet and a rondo.

Josef Reicha is remembered today as the leader of the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne's court orchestra in Bonn which included not only his nephew, Antoine-Joseph Reicha, but also the young Ludwig van Beethoven. Prior to that appointment in 1788, he had been one of the outstanding players, a cellist in his case, that Prince Kraft Ernst had brought to Schloss Wallerstein to restore the high musical standards of his father's musical establishment. This Parthia of 1782 is one of the works which enriched musical life there.