Why did Richard Strauss compose two concertos for the French horn?

Richard Strauss composed two concertos for the French horn primarily because of his personal connection to the instrument and his desire to showcase its expressive capabilities.1

His father, Franz Strauss, was a professional principal hornist with the Munich Court Orchestra, making the instrument a natural focus for the composer. Richard Strauss wrote his first horn concerto in 1883 with the specific intention that his father would perform the premiere. Although the work was designed to highlight the instrument's range, it proved so technically demanding that his father ultimately declined to perform it publicly, leaving the premiere to another musician.1

Decades later, during what is often described as his "Indian summer" period, Strauss returned to the instrument to compose a second horn concerto in 1942. This later work reflected a broader shift in his style toward a more classical, refined approach, as he revisited the musical interests of his youth. Throughout his career, Strauss frequently utilized the horn in his orchestrations, reflecting his lifelong appreciation for its unique sound and technical potential.12