Serenade A-Dur op. 53b

Adolf Busch was not only a phenomenal violinist from the first half of the 20th century, but he also wrote musical pieces in a tremendous variety of genres for concert performances as well as home use. Busch’s brother Hermann was a cellist and member of the acclaimed Busch Quartet; his second wife Frieda played the clarinet. It was to her that Busch dedicated the larger part of the four pieces gathered here under opus 53 and composed between 1927–1943 for clarinet and various string scorings. One exception is the profusely rich and charming Serenade op. 53b, which Busch dedicated to his friend Hans Ritz in Basel.

The scoring and compositional techniques of the work hint at Reger,Mozart and even beyond, whereby it is undeniable that Busch is firmly rooted in the musical tradition. Moreover, virtuosity and melodic lines in the Nocturno are influenced by Busch’s prolific experience as an instrumental soloist.