The Horn Call October 1986 Volume XVII, Number 1

Scharnberg, William. "William C. Robinson, Founder of the IHS, Retires." 13-15.

The author profiles Robinson's playing and teaching career and includes Robinson's own account of the birth of the International Horn Society. (Bio, IHS)

Farnsley, Stephen H. "Gunther Schuller's Concerto for Horn and Orchestra: an Unpublished, Youthful Masterpiece." 17-23.

The only performance of this concerto, written in 1945, was at its premiere, with the composer as soloist. Although the middle "Nocturne" movement was available until 1980 through Mills Music, the outer two movements have never been published. Farnsley details the history of the work and includes excerpts from two reviews of the premiere. A detailed analysis of the work along with numerous excerpts are also included. (Rep)

Walshe, Robert C. "The Transition from Hand Horn to Valve Horn in Germany." 25-26.

Walshe looks at a number of works from the nineteenth century which clearly show how the valve horn slowly displaced the natural horn during this time. (Hist, NtHn)

Pierce, Robert O. "In Memoriam: Willem Adriaan Valkenier." 29-30. (Bio)

Valkenier, Robert. "In Memoriam: Willem Adriaan Valkenier." 30-33. (Bio)

Burdett, Keith. "B.H.S.-Ripon 1100." 35-37.

Details are given of this British Horn Society event, which celebrated 1100 years of horn blowing in Ripon, Great Britain. (WkSh)

Kampen, Paul. "The Ripon Horn." 38-39.

King Alfred the Great presented this horn to the city of Ripon, Great Britain in the year 886 to signify his granting of the city charter. Kampen discusses its history and the customs associated with the blowing of the horn. (Hist)

Watson, Catherine. "A Profile of Harold Meek." 41-46.

The career of Meek, former long-time member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the first editor of the Horn Call, is detailed. In addition, many of the horns in his collection are pictured and described, including a mint condition 1830 Courtois hand horn. (Bio, Eqmt, NtHn)

Osmun, Robert. "Maintenance of Rotary Valves." 49.

Osmun dispels many of the myths about valve maintenance and presents a step-by-step procedure for properly lubricating the horn. (Mnt)

Ruff, Willie. "Paul Hindemith and the Sound of the Horn." 52-54.

Ruff recounts the stories behind Hindemith's writing of the Sonata for Four Horns and Concerto for horn. He also discusses Hindemith's use of poetry and includes English translations of the poems from the Concerto and the Sonata for Alto Horn and Piano. (Hist, Rep)

Groves, John. "Keystone Brass Institute: A Hornist's Impressions." 55-56.

Groves, a participant during this, the initial year of the institute, describes the events and lists the participating artists. (WkSh)

Pherigo, Johnny. "Solos for the Young Hornist." 60-63.

Pherigo lists nineteen solos for horn and piano that he has selected for their overall educational and musical value. They are organized by ability level (beginner through young high school), and each includes listings of publisher, price, range requirements, duration, and a brief annotation. (Ped, Rep)

Leuba, J. C. "The Inherent Drive of Rhythm, a Continuation of the Discussion." 64-65.

Leuba continues the discussion begun in Philip Myers's article (HC XV/2, p. 49) and James Collorafi's response (HC, XVI/2, p. 62). The role of rhythm, particularly the accent, in the opening of Schubert's "Great C Major" Symphony and the "Rondo" theme from Mozart's Fourth Horn Concerto is discussed. (Rep)

Kavalovski, Charles. Jeffrey Agrell, ed. "Orchestral Excerpt Clinic." 66.

The horn/clarinet solo in Franck's Symphony in D Minor is discussed. (Rep)

Agrell, Jeffrey. "Jazz Clinic." 66-67.

Agrell proposes taking the basic Farkas style arpeggiated warm-up and altering it to outline various chords commonly used in jazz. He stresses that this should be done without using music in order to aid in the development of improvisational skills. (Jz, Wmup)

Kafer, Harold A. "1986 Southeast Horn Workshop-An Administrative Perspective." 70-71.

Kafer, head of the Music Department of Auburn University, outlines effective methods for successfully hosting an event of this type. (WkSh)

Agrell, Jeffrey. "1985 IHS Composition Contest Report." 72-77.

Winners in each of the three categories are announced and briefly described and a complete listing of entries is given. The winners are as follows: Category I: Horn and Piano (Level 1-2), Four Bagatelles for Horn and Piano by Michael Jacques; Category II: Horn in Chamber Ensemble, Intoduzione e Capriccio per 7 Strumenti by Rózsa Pál; Category III: Horn Ensemble, Fourth and Fifth for 12 Horns by Attila Reményi. (IHS, Rep, WkSh)

Jepson, Barbara. "Clambake: The Dilemma of the Horn." 78-79.

This reprint from the Wall Street Journal discusses the difficulties and uncertainties faced by horn players. It includes a brief profile of, as well as a number of comments by, Barry Tuckwell. (Bio, Emb, Eqmt, Hist)

Hokanson, Ruth. "Statement of Financial Condition 30 June 1986." 82-84. (IHS)

Pignéguy, John. "News and Notes from London." 85-86.

Among the musical highlights of the past year that Pignéguy mentions is the final concert of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. (Misc)

Leuba, Christopher. "Recordings Section." 87-89. (Disc)

Stewart, Milton L. "An Analytical Review." 90-92.

Jazz hornist Tom Varner's album Motion/Stillness (Soulnote SN 1067) is reviewed, and each of the five original compositions is analyzed. (Disc, Jz)

The Horn Call April 1987 Volume XVII, Number 2

Walshe, Robert C. "The Orchestral Horn Transpositions of Richard Strauss." 11-15.

Although the crooked hand horn had nearly disappeared by the time Strauss began composing, he continued to call for horns in different keys in his works. Walshe investigates this, showing many examples of Strauss horn parts written in this manner. He explains that Strauss had two primary reasons for continuing this practice: his belief that hornists preferred transposing over reading many accidentals, and his preference for the cleaner looking score produced when using less accidentals and no key signature. (Hist, Rep, Trns)

Mansur, Paul. "That Detmold Workshop." 16-28.

Mansur reports on the Eighteenth International Horn Workshop held in Detmold, Germany. (WkSh)

Vach, Milan. "About the Horn in Bohemia from Hudebni Nastroje." 30-33.

This article, taken from the Czech music journal Hudebni Nastroje, traces the Bohemian horn players and teachers of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It is primarily a listing of the players names, locations, dates, and accomplishments that has been organized into a logical chronology. (Hist)

Secon, Morris. Jeffrey Agrell, ed. "Orchestral Excerpt Clinic." 34-35.

Secon discusses the calls in Beethoven's Sixth Symphony. (Rep)

Bell, Kenneth. "A Bibliographic Survey of the Horn in Chamber Music, 1750-1830." 37-43.

Bell has compiled 121 sources that list or discuss horn chamber works from this period. (Bib)

Roth, Viola. "Early Brass Festival II." 45-46.

Roth highlights the events at this two-day festival in Amherst, Massachusetts, which focuses on pre-valve instruments. (NtHn, WkSh)

Bigelow, Newton. "On Learning the Horn." 48-52.

The author, an eighty-three-year old amateur hornist, reminisces about his years of playing and studying the horn. (Misc)

Pherigo, Johnny. "Report on the International Horn Society Horn/Band Transcription Project." 54-59.

Pherigo presents a list of thirty-five transcriptions which are available for sale or rental. Each work's instrumentation is given, along with any pertinent rental or purchase information. (IHS, Rep)

Agrell, Jeffrey. "Jazz Clinic." 61-62.

Agrell stresses the importance of relentlessly practicing scales and patterns to build a foundation to draw upon when improvising. He presents a possible approach to use when practicing patterns, shows a few examples of patterns, and suggests texts which will provide many others. (Jz, Ped)

Farkas, Philip. "Medical Problems of Wind Players: A Musician's Perspective." 64-67.

Farkas categorizes these problems into four categories: embouchure, breathing, holding the instrument, and stage fright. He looks at many of the specific problems within these categories and offers possible methods to prevent or cure them. (Hea)

Wakefield, David. "A Chronological List of Horn Tutors." 69-72.

This list contains fifty-two tutors arranged chronologically and categorized as either pre-hand horn, hand horn, or valve horn tutors. (Bib, Ped)

Kaslow, David. "An Introduction to Richard Moore's New Book." 83.

Kaslow, a former student of Moore's, offers his insights into the comments by Moore contained in his Anthology of French Horn Music. (Rep)

Moore, Richard C. "Errata." 83.

Included is a list of corrections for his book Anthology of French Horn Music. (Rep)

Leuba, Julian Christopher. "Recordings Section." 84-89. (Disc)

The Horn Call October 1987 Volume XVIII, Number 1

Baumann, Hella. "Second International Competition for Hand Horn, Bad Harzburg, West Germany, June 17-20, 1987." 19-20. (WkSh)

Scharnberg, Bill. "Upon the Retirement of James Winter." 21-24. (Bio)

Delano, Alice. "Mozart Horn Concerto K. 495: A Study of Editions." 25-29.

This study looks at seven editions of Mozart's Fourth Horn Concerto K. 495: the initial publication by André (1802), that of Contore d'arti e d'industria (1803), and those edited by Carl Reinecke (1879), Henri Kling (1879), Dennis Brain (1946), James Chambers (1960), and Hermann Baumann (1982). These are compared to the facsimile found in Das Horn bei Mozart (Mozart & the Horn) Facsimile-Collection, by Hans Pizka. While discrepancies in articulations, dynamics, notes, or length can be seen to some degree in each of these, the author believes that the edition most faithful to the original is that of Contore d'art e d'industria. (Hist, Rep)

Saxton, S. Earl. "The Rap Session on Disabled/Handicapped Hornists and How They Cope." 31-38.

Saxton highlights information received in response to his mailings and notices, and recounts comments from the rap session. Stories of individuals faced with a variety of physical disabilities and diseases are related, and methods of preventing or overcoming them are detailed. Eight medical clinics that specialize in musicians' problems are listed along with their addresses and phone numbers. (Hea)

Scharnberg, William. "What Type of Horn Should I Buy?" 39-40.

Scharnberg recommends that someone deciding on a horn to purchase look for an instrument that can produce a good "characteristic" tone, as well as one that may help you get work in the area, i.e., is similar to those used by other local players. He discusses the ingredients that make up a good tone, concluding that the acoustical environment in which a horn will be played is often unnecessarily overlooked when judging a horn's attributes. (Acou, Eqmt, NtSty, Tn)

Pyle, Robert. "Acoustical Reverberations." 42-45.

Basic terms used in the field of acoustics are defined and explained. These include acoustics, hertz, decibel, cents, harmonic, overtone, partial, and pure tone (sine wave). (Acou)

Stewart, Milton L. "Review of Jazz French Horn." 47-53.

The album Jazz French Horn featuring hornist Tom Varner is given a detailed review by Stewart. Each of the eight tracks is discussed and analyzed and many helpful diagrams and examples are included. (Disc, Jz)

Aebi, Franz. "In Memoriam: Aebi." 54-55.

The life and accomplishments of Dr. Willi Aebi (1901-1986) are highlighted. (Bio)

Winter, James. "In Memoriam: Aebi." 55-56.

Winter shares personal memories of Dr. Willi Aebi. (Bio)

Shapiro, Harry. "In Memoriam: James Stagliano (1912-1987)." 57. (Bio)

Hokanson, Ruth. "International Horn Society Statement of Financial Condition 30 June 1987." 58-60. (IHS)

Agrell, Jeffrey. "Report on the 1986 Composition Contest." 62-67.

A complete list of entrants is given and winners in each category are announced and reviewed. Winners included: Category I: Horn and Piano-Jazz Style, no prize winner, Honorable Mention awarded to Jazz Suite by David Machell; Category II: Horn and String Quartet (vn/2va/vc), Flights of Imagination by Steven Winteregg, Honorable Mentions awarded to Chiaroscuro by Stephen A. Taylor and Quintet by Franz Xaver Gardeweg; Category III: Horn Ensemble, Fyodor's Lullaby (12 hn) by David Jones and Relationships (8 hn) by Dave Perrottet, Honorable Mentions awarded to 4 Canzoni da Sonar per 6 Corni by Luca Logi and Epiphanie (12 hn) by Caspar Diethelm. (IHS, Rep, WkSh)

Bacon, Thomas. Jeffrey Agrell, ed. "Orchestral Excerpt Clinic." 68-69.

Bacon discusses Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21. (Rep)

Decker, Richard. "IHS Announces Theses Acquisition." 70-72.

A total of forty-nine theses are listed that deal with horn or related brass topics and are available for loan to IHS members from the IHS Archives in Muncie, Indiana. (Bib, IHS)

Leuba, Julian Christopher. "Recordings Section." 84-89. (Disc)

Braun, Elaine. "Hooked on..." 91-97.

Braun summarizes the events of the Nineteenth International Horn Workshop held at Provo, Utah. (WkSh)

The Horn Call April 1988 Volume XVIII, Number 2

Pizka, Hans. "News from Our Man in Munich." 18-19.

Horn related news and activities are reported, and two old photographs from Pizka's archives are included, one showing the fourteen Wagner-hornists at the 1906 Bayreuth Festival, the other dating from 1904 and showing six hornists at Prof. Emil Wipperich's garden in Bayreuth. (Hist, Misc, WkSh)

Leuba, Julian Christopher. "The Literate Hornist." 21.

Leuba presents a short list of written and recorded materials that he feels "contain important insights into the art of musical performance." (Bib, Disc, Ped, Rep)

Horvath, Roland. "In Memory of Friedrich Reithofer." 23. (Bio)

Gross, Steve. "A Competition Comes of Age." 25-30.

The 1987 American Horn Competition is profiled. (WkSh)

Vach, Milan. "Kaemika Corni." 31-32.

This quartet is made up of members of the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra of Ostrava, CSSR. (Bio, Ens)

Ver Meulen, William. Jeffrey Agrell, ed. "Orchestral Excerpt Clinic." 33-38.

Ver Meulen discusses the performance and interpretation of Haydn's Symphony No. 31 ("Hornsignal") and offers advice on choosing an instrument (regular double vs. descant), building endurance, and improving the high range. (Ped, Rng, Rep)

Varner, Tom. "Jazz Clinic." 39-42.

The importance and usefulness of the diminished minor scale in contemporary jazz improvisation is stressed. Varner includes practice examples using diminished scales, the names of fourteen top American jazz hornists, and a short discography of jazz recordings which feature heavy use of diminished scales. (Disc, Jz, Ped, Prsnl)

Hill, Douglas. "Self-Development and the Performance of Music." 45.

This is a list of twenty-two recommended books covering the topics of musical orientation, relaxation and meditation, biofeedback, "inner game" concepts, breathing, Alexander technique, visualization, psychophysiology and autogenic training, and self-esteem and personal growth. (Bib, Brea, Ped)

Yeo, Douglas. "Horn Players of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1881-1988." 47-61.

Included are twenty photographs showing forty past and present hornists with the BSO. Brief biographical information on many past members and more detailed information on present members is given, and a complete list of all fifty-two BSO horn players is included. (Bio, Ens, Prsnl)

Stewart, Milton L. "Chamber Music for Voices with French Horn: Performance Problems for French Horn." 63-71.

This is the first of a three-part series and is entitled "The French Horn and Its Function in Vocal and Chamber Music Before 1800." After briefly describing the evolution of the instrument and its technique, Stewart traces the use of the horn in eighteenth century vocal and chamber music, showing numerous examples and discussing horn function, writing style, and technical demands. (Hist, NtHn, Rep)

Loebl, Cindy Carr. "Two Important European Horn Competitions of 1987." 72-79.

Loebl reports on the Prague Spring International Horn Competition and the ninth Scandinavian Horn Seminar. (Rep, WkSh)

Pyle, Robert. "AudioPyle: Acoustical Reverberations." 80-86.

Similarities and differences in brass instrument timbre are analyzed and explained by Pyle. Important points include the discussion of formant peaks and frequencies; the relationship between dynamic level and tone quality; how the change in spectrum envelope shape stays consistent throughout a family of brasses; what causes the "brassy" quality in loud playing; the influence of instrument direction on tone quality; and the importance of slight, rapid, random changes of frequency and amplitude which add warmth to the tone. (Acou, Tn)

Dressler, John C. "An Alphabetical Listing of the Chambers/International Music Company Orchestral Excerpt Books for Horn, Volumes I-VII." 90. (Ped, Rep)

Leuba, Julian Christopher. "Recordings Section." 98-102. (Disc)