Transcriptions by Thomas Widlar

The goal of most of these transcriptions was to use the instruments in the manner the composer would have used them. This means, in works of the classical period, natural horn or hand horn and natural trumpets are used, and the range and registers for the woodwinds and strings are limited, and other conventions of style are adhered to.

Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas

These sonatas are transcribed for the orchestra of Beethoven's time (2222/2200/timp/strings) except as otherwise noted .  [Program notes]

 Sonata No. 1 in F, Op. 2 No. 1
 Sonata No 2 in A, Op. 2 No. 2 [Download 2nd movement]
 Sonata No. 3 in C, Op. 2 No. 3 [Download 4th movement]
 Sonata No. 4 in Eb, Op. 7         [Download 3rd movement]
 Sonata No. 5 in c, Op. 10, No. 1
 Sonata No. 6 in F, Op. 10, No. 2
 Sonata No. 7 in D, Op. 10, No. 3
 Sonata No. 8 in c, Op. 13 (Pathétique)
 Sonata No. 9 in E, Op. 14, No. 1
 Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 14, No. 2
 Sonata No. 11 in Bb, Op. 22
 Sonata No. 12 in H, Op. 26  (2222/4000/timp/str)
    (original in Ab, Marcia Funebre orchestrated by Beethoven)
 Sonata No. 13 in Eb, Op. 27, No. 1
 Sonata No. 14 in c#, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight)
 Sonata No. 15 in D, Op. 28
 Sonata No. 16 in G, Op. 31, No. 1
 Sonata No. 17 in d, Op. 31, No. 2 (Tempest)
 Sonata No. 18 in Eb, Op. 31, No. 3
 Sonata No. 19 in g, Op. 49, No. 1  (2222/2000/str)
 Sonata No. 20 in G, Op. 49, No. 2  (2222/2000/str)
 Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53 (Waldstein)
 Sonata No. 22 in F, Op. 54
 Sonata No. 23 in f, Op. 53 (Appasionata)  
 Sonata No. 24 in G, Op. 78  (original in F#)
 Sonata No. 25 in G, Op. 79
 Sonata No. 26 in Eb, Op. 81a (Les Adieux)
 Sonata No. 27 in e, Op. 90
 Sonata No. 28 in A, Op. 101 (2nd fl doubles piccolo)
 Sonata No. 29 in Bb, Op. 109 (Hammerklavier) (2(+picc)222(+cfg)/4230/timp/str)
 Sonata No. 30 in E, Op. 90 (2(+picc)222/2200/timp/str)
 Sonata No. 31 in Ab, Op. 110 (2(+picc)222/2200/timp/str)
 Sonata No. 32 in c, Op. 111 (2(+picc)222/2230/timp/str)

Johannes Brahms:
Piano Sonata No. 1 in C, Op. 1 (2222 4230 t str)
Piano Sonata No. 2 in f#, Op. 2 (2222 4230 t str)
Piano Sonata No. 3 in f, Op. 5 (2222 4230 t str)
Variations on a Theme by Schumann, Op. 8 (2222/2000/strings)
Variations on a Theme of Handel, Op. 24 (2222/4200/timp/strings) 


Large Orchestra

Serge Prokofiev: Toccata, Op. 11 (1912) (4*4*4*4* 4331 perc timp piano strings)
 

Wind Harmonie

W.A.Mozart: 5 String Quintets

Mozart himself transformed his Serenade in c, K. 314 (for wind harmonie, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons) into his string quintet, K. 514. (2 violins, 2 violas, violoncello). These serenades transcribe the other five string quintets for wind harmonie. The quintets are some of Mozart's most intense and sophisticated music. These works were performed by Tomáš Cechal and the Vent Wind Harmonie at Bertramka in Prague in June 1993.
[Select this to download three movements from these serenades, both score and parts.]

 Serenade in Bb, K. 174
 Serenade in C, K. 515
 Serenade in g, K. 516
 Serenade in D, K. 593
 Serenade in Eb, K. 614

Wind Quintet

Ludwig van Beethoven: 6 String Quartets, Op. 18 [Program notes]
 Wind Quintet No. 1 in F [Download first two movements, score and parts.]
 Wind Quintet No. 2 in G
 Wind Quintet No. 3 in D
 Wind Quintet No. 4 in c
 Wind Quintet No. 5 in A
 Wind Quintet No. 6 in Bb

W. A. Mozart: The last three string quartets ("Prussian")
 Wind Quintet in D, K. 575
 Wind Quintet in Bb, K. 589
 Wind Quintet in F, K. 590

The Prague Wind Quintet has played the Beethoven Quintet No. 4 in c many times, including on Minnesota Public Radio's Saint Paul Sunday. The Quintet is also playing Mozart K. 575.

Serge Prokofiev: 3 Wind Quintets
The three wind quintets are from the two Sonatinas, Op. 54 for piano and the Three Pieces, Op. 59. Each quintet is in three movements and about ten minutes in length. This music is in Prokofiev's style of new simplicity, which can be alternatively laconic, lyrical, abrupt, and gentle.

 Wind Quintet No. 1 in e, Op. 54, No. 1
 Wind Quintet No. 2 in G, Op. 54, No. 2
 Wind Quintet No. 3, Op. 59

Dmitri Shostakovich: 5 Wind Quintets 

These wind quintets are transcriptions of his string quartets. Quartet No. 2 was written just before the Fifth Symphony and Quartet No. 5 is just before the Tenth Symphony.

 Wind Quintet No. 1 in C, Op. 49 (1935)
 Wind Quintet No. 2 in A, Op. 68 (1944)
 Wind Quintet No. 3 in F, Op. 73 (1946)
 Wind Quintet No. 4 in D, Op. 83 (1949)
 Wind Quintet No. 5 in Bb, Op. 92 (1952)
 

Nonet

These transcriptions were prepared for the Czech Nonet (violin, viola, violoncello, contrabass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn).

 J. S. Bach: Allegro, Adagio and Chorale (from Cantatas Nos. 146 and 147)
 B. Bartók: Improvisations, Op. 20
 B. Bartók: Sonata, (1926)
 J. Brahms: Intermezzo, Op. 116, No. 2
 E. Carter: Piano Sonata (1945-46)
 F. Chopin: Etude in E
 F. Chopin: Etude in c#
 C. Debussy: Suite Bergamasque (1890)
    (premiered in Prague by Czech Nonet, June 8, 2000)
 C. Debussy: Estampes (1903)
 C. Debussy: L'Isle Joyeuse (1904)
 L. Janacek: 1, X, 1905
 S. Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 5, Op. 38, revised as Op. 135
 S. Prokofiev: Tales of the Old Grandmother, Op. 31
 S. Prokofiev: Vision Fugitives
    (premiered in Prague by Czech Nonet, June 8, 1999)

(for nonet with 2nd violin and low voice)

 A. Dvorak: Gypsy Songs
    (premiered in Prague by Czech Nonet, November, 1999)
 C. Ives: Six Songs
    (premiered in Prague by Czech Nonet, November, 1999)
 

Wind Ensemble

Given the virtuousity of the music, little attempt is made to use Brahms' instrumental style for winds.

 J. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Paganini (Books I & II), Op. 35 (2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 hn, 2 bn, cb)