Hello, horn friends! Welcome to the 2nd issue of the International Horn Society E-Newsletter! As we are indeed international, we would like to invite your contributions in your native languages – send us your favorite videos, photos, opinions, whatever…. We will do our best to reflect and promote the multicultural character of the IHS.

My first membership in the Horn Society was a gift from one of my first and finest teachers, Prof. Edward Kammerer (University of Oregon in Eugene.) During my high school years, I learned an extraordinary amount from him, not only about technical aspects of horn playing, but also how important it is to follow your own musical “voice.” He was also a first-class human being. Eugene is known as “The Emerald City” because it’s so beautifully green, thanks to all the rainfall! So the local IHS-affiliated horn club was called the Emerald Horn Club (nicknamed “The Green Hornists.”) In 1988, the great Philip Farkas gave a workshop, sponsored by the horn club and the Horn Society. To meet Mr. Farkas and play for him was endlessly inspiring, something one particular 18-year-old will never forget. Don’t let such an opportunity pass you by. If there’s a horn club in your area, drop by and become a member; if not, feel free to contact us about setting up one. Happy reading! Greetings, Kristina Mascher, Luxembourg, IHS Advisory Council, American Horn Quartet

Hallo liebe Horn-Freunde,

Herzlich Wilkommen in die zweite Ausgabe des E-Newsbriefs der Internationalen Horngesellschaft! Da wir tatsächlich “international” sind, möchten wir euch - unsere mehrsprachigen Kollegen aus aller Welt - ermutigen, mal mitzumachen. Schickt uns bitte eure Lieblingsvideos, Bilder, Meinungen, egal was, ein. Wir werden unser Bestes tun, den multikulturellen Charakter des IHS, zu fördern und zu reflektieren. Meine erste Mitgliedschaft bei dem IHS war Geschenk eines meinen ersten, besten Lehrers, Prof. Edward Kammerer (University of Oregon.) Als ich 15-18 Jahre alt war, habe ich bei ihm ungeheuer viel gelernt, nicht nur die technischen Aspekte des Hornspielens, sondern auch wie man sich vertrauen muss, der eigenen musikalische “Stimme” zu folgen. Er war auch ein erstklassiger Mensch. Eugene, Oregon trägt den Spitznamen “The Emerald City” (Die Smaragd-Stadt), dank dem ausgiebegen Regenfall. Darum heißt das Horn-Club The Emerald Horn Club – “The Green Hornists.” In 1988 kam der große Philip Farkas, dessen Besuch vom Emerald-Hornclub und dem IHS gesponsert wurde, für ein Workshop,  zu uns. Die Chance, Herrn Farkas kennenzulernen und vor ihm zu spielen, war für diese 18-Jährige unvergesslich und endlos inspirierend. Lasst euch solch eine Gelegenheit nie verpassen. Wenn sich ein Horn-Club in eurer Nähe befindet, schaut vorbei und werdet Mitglied! Sollte es keins geben, könnt ihr Kontakt  mit uns gerne aufnehmen, und wir beraten euch, wie ihr eins gründen könnt. Viel Spaß beim weiterlesen! Viele Grüße, Kristina Mascher, Luxembourg, IHS Advisory Council, American Horn Quartet

On March 27, the London Philharmonic Orchestra will be premiering Collage: A Concerto for Four Horns and Orchestra, written by James Horner (composer for many movie soundtracks, including: Field of Dreams, Cocoon, Titanic, Braveheart, The Mask of Zorro, Avatar) and funded in part by the International Horn Society's Major Commission Initiative. We're excited to hear the new work and will be bringing you more information after its premier, directly from the members of the quartet: David Pyatt, John Ryan, James Thatcher, and Richard Watkins. To purchase tickets and see more about attending this concert go directly to the LPO website: http://www.lpo.org.uk/whats-on-and-tickets/258-evocative-russian-classics.html

"I have known three of this evening’s four soloists for the last 20 or so years of my professional life as a film composer. Jim Thatcher was the principal horn on one of my first major films, Cocoon. David Pyatt and Richard Watkins have each served as principal horn on so many of my films that I’ve lost track! It was always a dream of mine to assemble this group of brilliant soloists in one room and have them play on a film score. We’d been discussing this for quite awhile when fate intervened and David ‘officially’ asked me to write a four-horn concerto using the above-mentioned players. I jumped at the chance and the piece you will hear tonight is the fruit of that labour. I’d like to express my deepest thanks to Jim Thatcher, David Pyatt, Richard Watkins, to our brilliant fourth soloist, John Ryan, to Jaime Martín and to all the members of the wonderful London Philharmonic Orchestra for making this premiere happen… a dream come true!"
James Horner

Program notes below provided by Gavin Plumley (www.gavinplumley.com)

‘Horns,’ wrote Richard Strauss, ‘are always a yardstick of heroism’. Having been the musical rallying cry of countless huntsmen, warriors and, of course, Wagner’s Siegfried, the instrument also offers an appealing mellifluousness to complement its innate bravura. It has logically become one of the principal characters in the scoring of films and although Oscar® and Grammy Award-winner James Horner is known for his use of more recent technological advances, the ever-versatile horn is a prominent feature within his soundtracks.