Johann Gottfried Schuncke, belonging to the music family Schunke, was hornist at the Court in Stuttgart. He was very talented and beside other members of his family Johann Gottfried belonged to the most famous horn virtuosi in the 19th century. He gave concerts together with his brother Michael, traveling also to Paris and London. According to a review about a concert in Halle/Saale in 1805, Gottfried's teacher was the hornist Lebrun in Berlin and the teacher of Michael was Giovanni Punto.
Gottfried Schuncke and his wife Elisabeth on their golden wedding anniversary, 1860/4/11
Friedrich August Carl, prince of Hohenlohe-Oehringen (1784 - 1853)
The Variations are dedicated to Prince Friedrich August Carl von Hohenlohe-Oehringen, who supported the family Schuncke.
This is the original title of the introduced work
Variationen über ein altdeutsches Lied für 2 Waldhörner mit Begleitung des Orchesters componirt und Seiner Durchlaucht dem Fürsten August von Hohenlohe-Oehringen ehrfurchtsvoll gewidmet von Gottfried Schuncke könig: Würtemberg: Kammermusikus
The copy is kept in the collection of Franz Zwirwina which consists of numerous copies, made of concerti by Rosetti, Hoffmeister and others. It is known, that the variations were published by C.F.Peters in Leipzig in 1819. There are further compositions by Johann Gottfried Schuncke such as Exercisen for Horn and Piano, Theme and Variations for Horn and Orchestra. The Variations for two horns and orchestra are today a wonderful addition to works, that give two hornists the possibility to show their facilities. Demanding is the work for natural horn players. I recommend the work for horns students, whereas the orchestra part can be played by student orchestras or hobby orchestra.