CD68

Handsome Horn Solos, Op. 318
music for natural horn (or valve horn)
and piano

Some of these are
simple and beautiful

 

Released:
February 26, 2022

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Program Notes:

This recording presents both version of all 16 solos in the Opus 318 set. One version is done on natural horn, and the other is performed on modern valve French horn.

This is a set of 16 short pieces 1-4 minutes long written to be performed on natural horn (most of them are quite easy to play for a pro).The difficulty curve is sort of like the works of Mozart, where he got complex in his middle period, then eased off. Movement one is quite easy and beautiful. Movements two and three are quite hard, but moderate on a double horn, then I eased off, finding that works with mostly the open harmonic series can be original sounding and not very hard.

I hadn't work on the natural horn in quite a while. This time around I have improved my intonation primary with the understanding that the "E" needs to be 14 cents higher (which I knew) but ALSO the 9th harmonic "D" needs to be lower. This involves hand movement in the bell much more often. There was a master class with Hermann Baumann, where I saw Mr. Baumann moving his hand for the "E" I asked about what he was doing, he said he was not moving his hand for the "E." I was surprised that he did that unconsciously!

This set of Natural horn solos is really quite interesting to create and I fell I have accomplished a number of works that are actually quite easy to play on the Natural horn. As I proceed I expect they will get even better.

In starting each of these works, I start with a template of horn parts in all 12 keys Bb Basso up to A alto. I write the scale out for each key and transpose them. I look for the biggest number of "bugle notes" in the key, with a definite easy tonic; an open tone or maybe an "A".

Each work stays solidly in the 7 or 8 tone scale; without non-scale-tones.

I have recently been inspired by Anton Reicha, where he developes his works by repeating melody or accompaniment in different parts; it is surprising how well this works. In some of the works, I start as simple as I dare, then I flip parts, then add to it, flip & add then a nice work is practically done!

The movement that accelerates (no. 14) is easy note (tone) wise, but I found it very difficult to perform, but it needs in the 5/4 time signature, which was one of reason it was so hard count.

The really good news for me about these works is that because I wrote them, the way I play them is the definitive version.

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Tracks:

1: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 1: Moderato

2: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 1: Moderato

3: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 2: Allegro

4: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 2: Allegro

5: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 3: Allegro

6: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 3: Allegro

7: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 4: Moderato

8: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 4: Moderato

9: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 5: Introspectively

10: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 5: Introspectively

11: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 6: Allegro

12: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 6: Allegro

13: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 7: Moderato

14: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 7: Moderato

15: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 8: Andante con moto

16: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 8: Andante con moto

17: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 9: Andante

18: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 9: Andante

19: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 10: Allegro

20: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 10: Allegro

21: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 11: Allegro vivo

22: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 11: Allegro vivo

23: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 12: Allegro vivo

24: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 12: Allegro vivo

25: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 13: Slow

26: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 13: Slow

27: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 14: Andante

28: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 14: Andante

29: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 15: Allegro

30: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 15: Allegro

31: Handsome Natural Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 16: Allegro

32: Handsome Valve Horn Solos, Op. 318, No. 16: Allegro

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