em portuguêsby Ricardo Matosinhos
The CD Hornscapes presents several pieces which showcase different possibilities of both horn and Wagner tuba. All the pieces were composed by horn players, “native speakers” of the horn player’s idiom. The concept of idiomatic horn writing is always present when I compose for the horn, and my doctoral research was, in fact, focused on this subject.
Following Douglas Hill’s idea of the Call to Action in his excellent book Collected Thoughts, we, as horn players, have a responsibility to encourage composers to write for our instruments. Even better, we should compose for our instrument ourselves, so that composers may take note of our capabilities and preferences.
I know that you might be thinking, “But I’ve never composed for the horn.” Yet, as a horn player, you know the instrument better than any composer, and that’s a significant advantage. The International Horn Society is currently running a composition contest until December 1st, making this the perfect opportunity for you to create a solo piece for the Featured Division. This piece can be performed by students and amateurs, but should also have enough musical integrity to honor professional performances.
This may seem like a daunting task for any composer, but it’s much easier for a horn player. Trust me, I don’t have a degree in composition, yet my works have fans worldwide and have been performed across the globe. So, I challenge you to compose a solo piece for our beloved horn!
With the release of this CD for horn (and Wagner tuba) and piano, I decided to create a small online contest for the recipients of Horn and More, the Newsletter of the International Horn Society. I’ve already offered two CDs in the September edition and another two in the October edition. But if you weren’t fast enough, there’s still a chance! I will be offering a final two CDs to the first two people who correctly answer the provided questions in the November editions.
If you were one of the winners of the September or October editions, you can still compete. However, if you place in the top two again, I will give the CD to the next person on the list.
Have fun, and good luck!
