Romance Op. 43

Blanc dedicated his Romance, Op. 43 (bis) "to His Friends Raoul Triebert and Garigue." The oboist Triebert (1845-1894) was a member of the Triebert dynasty, one of the most important families of instrument makers in France. Henri-Jean Garigue (1848-1907) was an important Parisian hornist. When the work was published the publisher suggested the possible substitution of an English Horn for the brass instrument, but that was clearly not Blanc's original intention. N.B. If the work is performed with English Horn the lowest pitches in mm. 41-44 will need to be played an octave higher than written. In a 2008 article discussing available repertoire for oboe/horn/piano trio, oboist Cynthia Carr wrote: "This is a lovely miniature, reminiscent of a Bellini operatic duet, and unlike any other repertoire for ob/ hn/ pno trio."