Bochsa, Robert N.C.: Nocturne, Op. 50 No. 3

The three Nocturnes by Bochsa are all dedicated ‘To his friend Charles Garnier’ and were published in Paris. They are short dramatic pieces for harp and oboe, exploiting operatic themes and styles, offering each instrument at least one elaborate variation. The title page of the earlier publication suggests flute, clarinet or violin as possible alternatives to the oboe, but then fails to mention the flute on the headings of the instrumental parts. The other two Nocturnes show that the flute is to play the violin version, if no oboe is available, while the clarinet plays the oboe version. With this new edition of Nocturne Op. 50 No. 3, set by C.M.M. and F.H. Nex, there are separate parts for Oboe, Clarinet in Bb and Violin, and the Harp part can alternatively be played on the Piano. Some mystery surrounds the numbering of the collection of Nocturnes Op. 50, whose original title page states ‘Two Nocturnes’ in every case, followed by the numbers 1, 2 and 3!