by Vidhurinda Samaraweera
Brahms’ Horn trio is very special to me. I have wanted to perform it since I was 14 years old, but I patiently waited for my teacher’s approval to start learning the work. It took a while since it requires a great deal of emotional maturity, understanding, and experience as a performer. The only performance in Sri Lanka prior to mine was allegedly done by the legendary player and pedagogue Alan Civil in the 1950’s or 60’s. I have no evidence in writing to substantiate this claim, and the hearsay evidence of a veteran musician in Sri Lanka remains the only proof. While it was certainly a challenge to follow Mr. Civil, the only consolation for me was that there are not many still living to make comparisons of the latter with the former.
The concert was held at the Goethe-Institut Hall in Colombo on the 23rd of August 2024. I was joined by veteran Sri Lankan violinist, Ananda Dabare, and an accomplished Lithuanian pianist now living in Sri Lanka, Aleksandra Kolpakovaite. The concert was attended by an audience of just over 100, and the venue was fully booked. Considering that it was a chamber setup, and the fact that it is a serious program, the outcome, in my estimation, was very good.
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L to R: Ananda Dabare (Violin), Aleksandra Kolpakovaite (Piano) and Vidhurinda Samaraweera (Horn)
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I did not have the luxury of studying the natural horn (Waldhorn) nor do I own one. As a valve horn player, one of the hardest challenges was emulating the timbre of a Waldhorn when playing the valve horn. Therefore, to achieve a softer tone at a relatively low dynamic, I opted for a more closed hand position in the bell. It was an excellent way to change the color (to what Brahms likely preferred). As we prepared, we worked hard to achieve a good balance.
Key Takeaways
At a time and in a region where classical music concerts often go unnoticed, the program received much praise from those attending. I had the privilege of giving a brief introduction of the piece before the performance which seems to have been appreciated by the audience, although such a thing is generally perceived here as being unconventional.
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Vidhurinda Samaraweera giving the audience a brief introduction about the Trio at the performance
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Some were even brought to tears at the performance. One of the most memorable comments I received from an audience member was that during the intimately written lullaby-like passage in the Scherzo, she locked eyes with her baby and instantly felt loved. She went on to say it was the first time she ever saw or heard a horn being played live. It is my view that we, as a nation, are making slow but steady progress in horn playing, and I am confident that the small steps we are taking will carry us far.
I wish to conclude by quoting an old Sinhalese song (translated) that encapsulates the importance of investing in the future:
Our ancestors planted seeds in the past;
We are enjoying their fruits now.
It is our responsibility to do the same
For the generations yet to come!
