Franz Doppler

Fantaisie Pastorale Hongroise op. 26

Franz Doppler (1821 -1883), was a flute virtuoso and a composer born in Lemberg (the modern Lvov, in Ukraine). His father, a composer and oboist at the Warsaw Opera, gave him a strong musical foundation. Franz made his début in Vienna at the age of thirteen, before appearing in a duo with his brother. In 1838 he was principal flute in the German theatre in Pest and three years later took a similar position at the Hungarian National Theatre. It was at this period that he made his début as a composer, writing several operas and contributing to the birth of national Hungarian music.With his brother Karl he took part in 1853 in the establishment of the first Hungarian symphony orchestra. Franz settled in Vienna in 1858 as principal flute at the Court Opera. He became a conductor and, from 1865, taught at the Vienna Conservatory. He also orchestrated some of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies. In his compositions Doppler made great use of Hungarian themes, whether in 'Variations sur un air Hongrois' or 'Fantaisie sur des motifs Hongrois', or in the famous 'Fantaisie Pastorale Hongroise', a fine piece akin in spirit to Liszt's 'Hungarian Rhapsodies'. Dutch arranger Andreas van Zoelen transcribed this 'Fantaisie Pastorale Hongroise' for Flute and Symphonic Band.