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Ask a Pro
Coordinated by Bill VerMeulen, the Ask a Pro section offers IHS members only a chance to have their (horn related!) questions answered by leading professionals. Responses will be in the form of videos posted on the IHS YouTube channel and embedded on this page. To ask a question, send an email to: This address is for IHS members only. Either log in above or Join today
This and other IHS videos can be found on our IHS YouTube Channel.
Question:
"We often have dress rehearsals the morning of the performance even when playing works such as Mahler 6! To add insult to injury, we also rehearse the night before which means we play the program 3 times in a 27-hour period (Fri rehearsal 7-9:30pm, Saturday dress rehearsal 10am-12:30pm, and Sat performance 7:30-10pm). What do you recommend as the best way to recover to be able to successfully make it through this demanding schedule of services?"
Bill VerMeulen's Answer
Question:
I am New York state music teacher (trombone) and I judge solo festivals. I had some high level french horn solos the past few years—not many—but a few——sometimes I would suggest asking their teacher about developing vibrato—I thought it was worth exploring——however—recently I was “schooled” by a horn teacher that I should never do that——horn players avoid vibrato like the plague. I never take points off their solo—offer it as a suggestion. I guess I have missed the boat————any way Do you have any suggestions? thanks Matthew Bond
Bill VerMeulen's Answer:
While it is true that some styles of horn playing don’t endorse the use of vibrato, you will find that vibrato use varies dramatically geographically throughout the horn world. Before the digital recording age horn playing developed geographically with sounds and styles that varied greatly. Vibrato was widely used within the French, Russian, East German, Czech horn communities and more. Horn sound and vibrato use was personal and often passed on within the tradition of the region and pedagogy. Although the sound and styles of the horn have homogenized some over the years vibrato use is still a personal and effective addition to expression not dissimilar to its use on any other instrument or voice. As such, I see no harm in encouraging vibrato use done tastefully with service to the music and the tradition of sound and style which best suits your feeling of the composer’s intent. I personally have no problem with judicious use of vibrato on Ravel Pavane or Tchaikovsky 5th but am less inclined to find it effective or necessary for Brahms or Bruckner. In recital and concerto work I am more inclined to endorse vibrato which adds color to the music and sound. Vibrato should be done to add color and increase musical line. Sadly, many use vibrato to mask a lack of center to one’s tone and pitch. Of the types of vibrato; Jaw, finger, breath, lipping, I feel strongly we should emulate singers with breath vibrato. It keeps the air moving and adds to the overall musical line. While many Americans may eschew vibrato use as a matter of dogma I disagree and use quite a bit in my personal solo playing, especially in Jazz styled works and vocal transcriptions. I am glad you don’t take points off and encourage you to champion anything you believe will best serve the music since that is our sacred trust.
Links
| YouTube: the Horn Channel Interesting, entertaining, educational and of great historic value. This is a collection of short videos by Ifor James, Hans Pizka and Greg Cass. | Il Club del Corno The Italian Horn Club. Mostly in Italian with some English translations. |
| The British Horn Society Dedicated to the art, craft and fun of horn playing. | www.ivasi.org Interactive Video Audition Service International ("IVASI"): An Inter-Active Video Guide for Orchestral Preparation, developed by IHS life member James Decker |
| Nederlands Hoornisten Genootschap Dutch Horn Society (in Dutch only) | Horn Articles Online A large collection of information on horn playing and horn history by John Ericson. |
| 日本ホルン協会 Japan Horn Society (in Japanese only) | www.hornexcerpts.org A large site featuring music and recorded examples of horn excerpts by Daren Robbins. |
| www.waltornia.pl A site run by Damian Walentek of the Polish National Radio Symphony in Katowice, for the promotion of the horn in Poland (Polish Lanaguage only) | Pip Eastop Inventions, articles, and much more in a site by a well-known British player. |
| www.hoorn.be A Belgian horn site (in Flemish only) | Dick Martz Photos and descriptions of an interesting personal collection of horns. |
| www.trompista.com A Portuguese language horn forum. | Hornplanet.com A fun site, created by Thomas Bacon. |
| Hornplayer.net Free classifieds, 300 page information archive, Walter Hecht's Significa, section listings, and more by Robin Moffatt. | Julia Rose's Horn Page Notes from master classes by Mark Lawrence, David Krehbiel, Arnold Jacobs, audition lists, and more. |
| Embouchures.com Hornist Lucinda Lewis shares information for brass players suffering with embouchure problems or lip injuries. | Bob Ward's Homepage Check out the warm-up book and other information from this San Francisco Symphony hornist. |
| http://www.wienerhorn.com All things horn in Vienna. Includes articles, a forum and a marketplace. In German only. | http://www.iwbc-online.org/ Website of the International women's Brass conference. |
| An enthusiasm for Dennis Brain A tribute website to Dennis Brain (1921-1957). [Japanese and English] | Hans Pizka's Homepage Bios of famous hornists, advice for young players, big pictures, and more. |
BLOGS What is a blog? See The Horn Call, Oct. 2006, p. 44.
| Barry Tuckwell: A Life With French (sic) Horn A podcast interview from the University of Melbourne. Scroll down to program number 21. |
| Works with Horn by Female Composers An excellent resource by Lin Foulk. | |
The Horn List at Yahoo! Groups This horn list is intended as a forum for the exchange of information and opinions related to the horn and horn performance. It is a meeting point where all hornists - professionals, students, and amateurs alike - can trade ideas in a congenial, constructive atmosphere, governed by the rules of mutual respect and common courtesy. Over 1000 members.
"The Hornlist" The purpose of the Horn Discussion Group is to provide a forum for electronic conversation about all things relating to the horn's playing technique, repertoire, ensembles, personalities, and so on. Sending a message to the list causes it to be distributed automatically to a subscribing membership of about 900 people worldwide. So questions get lots of answers, and issues get lots of responses. Like hornists themselves, the list is usually full of friendly banter and helpfulness with the occasional curmudgeon. All are welcome.
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Performance Job Listings
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Jobline
A listing of horn related employment opportunities, primarily academic. To post a job opening announcement contact Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo..
Assistantships
Assistantships, fellowships and other financial aid opportunities for student hornists. To post an announcement contact Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo..
IHS Forum
Join fellow horn players in a broad ranging forum. Only Only IHS members are allowed to post. The forum includes an"Ask the Pros" section with a different correspondent every other month.
Links
Some of the best the web has to offer for horn players, including many national or regional horn related sites.
Horn Performance Jobs
- Última actualización: 14 Octubre 2021 14 Octubre 2021
Compiled by Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.
IHS Members are invited to submit information on any upcoming horn auditions not listed here.
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Tutti Horn. Application deadline: Oct. 14, 2022. Audition date: Oct. 29. 2021.
Co-Principal Horn. Application deadline: Dec. 3, 2021. Audition date: Dec. 3, 2021.
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Associate Principal Horn. Application deadline: Oct. 10, 2021. Audition date: not listed.
Austria
Belgium
3rd Horn. Application deadline: Oct. 5, 2021. Audition date: Oct. 29, 2021.
Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège
Cor Solo 1er soliste. Application deadline: Oct. 15, 2021. Audition date: Oct. 25, 2021.
1st Horn (part-time). Application deadline: Nov. 29, 2021. Audition date: Dec. 20, 2021.
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Horn, associate principal. Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Second and Fourth Horn (one-year). Application deadline: Oct 7, 2021. Audition date: not listed.
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
First French Horn Player. Application deadline: Jan. 10, 2022. Audition date: Feb. 11, 2022.
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Europe
Finland
France
3ème cor jouant le 2ème - 1 poste. Application deadline: Oct. 28. Audition date: Nov. 13, 2021.
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Principal horn. Application deadline: Dec. 22, 2021. Audition date: Jan. 9, 2022.
Germany
Bad Reichenhaller Philharmoniker
2. Horn 50% bis zum 30.04.2023 ab 01.05.2023 2. Horn 100%. Application deadline: Oct. 3, 2021. Audition date: Dec. 1, 2021.
French Horn. Application deadline: Oct 31, 2021. Audition date: Dec. 6-10, 2021.
Tiefes Horn. Application deadline: Oct. 28, 2021. Audition date: Dec. 9-10, 2021.
Ein hohes Horn. Application deadline: Dec. 8, 2021. Audition date: Jan. 20-21, 2022.
Orchesterakademie des hr-Sinfonieorchesters Stipendiat*in Horn (Apprenticeship/Academy position). Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Granada
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Secondo corno con obbligo del quarto e a seguire. Application deadline: Nov. 22, 2021. Audition date: not listed.
Terzo corno con obbligo del primo, del secondo, del quarto e a seguire. Application deadline: Nov. 29, 2021. Audition date: not listed.
Secondo Corno, Quarto e seguenti con l'obbligo del Terzo. Application deadline: Oct. 28, 2021. Audition date: not listed.
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Utility Horn (2./3./4.). Application deadline: Oct. 29, 2021. Audition date: Dec. 6/8 2021.
New Zealand
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Principal Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 20, 2021. Audition date: not listed.
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Associate Principal 3rd Horn. Application deadline: Oct. 18, 2021. Audition date: Recordings due Oct. 18, 2021.
Horn. Ongoing auditions.
Norway
Solo Horn. Application deadline: Dec. 1, 2021. Audition date: Jan. 28, 2022.
Palestine/Israel
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Russia
Scotland
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Fundació Orquestra Simfònica Illes Balears/Balearic Islands Simphony Orchestra
(extra work / substitutes). Application deadline: Sep. 20, 2021. Audition date: not listed.
Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya
Quinta trompa, asistente de tercera trompa (1) – Temporary. Application deadline: Oct. 11, 2021. Audition date: Nov. 9, 2021.
Sweden
1. Principal Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 12, 2021. Audition date: Oct. 16-17, 2021.
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Tutti horn 3rd and 2nd with obligation to play 4th-8th horn and Wagner tuba. Application deadline: Oct. 4, 2021. Audition date: Nov. 4-5, 2021.
Switzerland
Taiwan
Turkey
Bilkent Symphony Orchestra
Horn. Application deadline: Dec. 6, 2021. Audition date: not listed.
United Kingdom
Horn. Ongoing auditions.
Horn - ongoing auditions.
USA
Second Horn (per service). Application deadline: Sep. 20, 2021. Audition date: Oct. 19, 2021.
(apprenticeship/academy position). Application deadline: not listed. Audition date: not listed.
Assistant Principal Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 30, 2021. Audition date: Oct. 17, 2021.
Third Horn. Application deadline: Sep. 30, 2021. Audition date: Oct. 17, 2021.
Horn. Application deadline: ongoing. Audition date: ongoing.
United States Air Force Academy Band
Classical/Commercial French Horn. Application deadline: Aug. 30, 2021. Audition date: Oct. 18-22, 2021.
Horn. Application deadline: Dec. 5, 2021. Audition date: Feb. 4, 2022.
United States Army Band Pershing’s Own
Horn, The U.S. Army Concert Band. Application deadline: Nov. 29, 2021. Audition date: Dec. 13-14, 2021.
US Marine Corps Musician Enlistment
Horn. Ongoing auditions. For further information please contact Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan Bley at 757-613-8215. Or by e-mail at Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.