New Addition #1 to "The Music Of Douglas Hill" in OMS

Douglas Hill – Jazz Mix for Two, Set 1

Jazz Mix for Two, Set 1 is a light-hearted group of duets for horns that explore various jazz stylings not typically enjoyed by horn players. The arrangements of these original melodies are written with both parts sharing the tunes and harmonies equally.

Each duet deals with specific performance traditions.

Ramblin’ Rag is to be performed with even eighth notes, with a tendency toward shorter, accented syncopations, and a frolicking sense of fun.

Full Circle Blues gets down and dirty with a slow swing feel. It is notated in 12/8 to add to that lazy sensation. The full circle of fourths is the form of this somewhat unique 12 bar blues design.

Begin Again is to be felt as a beguine, or lightly laced Latin dance. The eighth notes are performed evenly with accents placed gently on the syncopations, as suggested, along with some lush, lyrical lines.

Swing’s the Thing harkens back to the swing era and that loping feel of nearly a compound meter. Added here is a “walking bass line”, and some additional fall-offs, glissandos, and smears.

New Membership Coordinator

The International Horn Society is pleased to announce that Elaine Braun has been appointed by unanimous vote of the IHS Advisory Council as the society's first Membership Coordinator. Her official responsibilities will begin as soon as possible. Elaine has a long history with the IHS, serving in several capacities, as well as numerous administrative experiences with musical organizations in support of her new duties. We congratulate Elaine on this appointment and look forward to working with her in this new capacity.

Jeff Snedeker
President, IHS

Jacobus Handl Gallus– Alleluia, Cantate Domino for 12 horns

Jacobus Handl Gallus– Alleluia, Cantate Domino for 12 horns (arr. Jeffrey Snedeker) has been added to the IHS Online Music Sales.

Alleluia, Cantate Domino is from a huge collection of sacred music by Jacobus Handl Gallus, a late Renaissance Slovenian composer who spent his whole life in Moravia and Bohemia. Gallus effectively mixed the polyphonic style of the Franco-Flemish School with the antiphonal style of the Venetian School. He composed over 500 works in both sacred and secular genres, mostly music for voices up to 24 parts. Opus musicus, the collection from which this piece is taken from, is his most notable work, consisting of 374 motets that covered the liturgical needs of an entire ecclesiastical year. Alleluia, Cantate Domino is for 12 voices is organized in three four-voice SATB choirs, and shows clear influence by the Venetian cori spezzati technique. This arrangement was transcribed and edited by Jeffrey Snedeker.

Douglas Hill – "A Place for Hawks" added to OMS

Douglas Hill – A Place for Hawks for mezzo-soprano, horn, and strings

https://www.hornsociety.org/marketplace/online-library#!/Hill-Douglas-–-A-Place-for-Hawks-for-mezzo-soprano-horn-and-strings/p/75018308/category=21024120

August Derleth (1909-1971) was one of Wisconsin’s most prolific authors and poets with more than 150 published books of fiction, poetry, Wisconsin history, biography, science fiction, mystery, and short stories. His creative output more often than not derived its inspiration from his town and area of birth and life-long residence, Sauk City. The natural surroundings of these rolling hills and Wisconsin River bottoms were beautifully expressed in hundreds of his poems and much of his prose.

The four poems selected for A Place for Hawks set the poet/singer near the still and silent woods, in awe of its darkened depths during the cold of winter, wishing at once to go in and yet called by unseen walls that “only sight could breach.” This uncertain solitude is suddenly disturbed by a frightening and fantastic encounter with “the great bird” as he flies near and shares a brief moment of eye contact before reentering the “darkness of the winter wood.” The third poem finds the poet/singer virtually soaring with a “hawk on the wind.” Having moved beyond the darkness and uncertainty of primal nature, the poet/singer finds kinship and ecstasy simply watching as the hawk floats, circles, vaults, and dives. The final poem sings warmly and optimistically of the coming of spring with its blossoms, birdsongs, and “birch with yellow catkins” shaking in the air. The poet/singer looks forward to a journey to the hills “far from village streets” where the “hawk flies high” and where the “earth of grass and tree” will surely provide “their strength again.”

Taken as a literal set of experiences or as a symbolic confrontation with one’s own nature, these poems, and the music which enhances their power and romantic simplicity, reach outward to touch a certain spirit which connects us all to the earth, grass, trees, and the joyful soaring of the hawk.

The composer wishes to thank “the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Madison for its grant support which made the composition and preparation of this work possible.

Announcing a NEW Online Column and Position

An online column devoted to sharing sheet music with IHS members.

Column Title: HornTunes

Purpose: To offer an opportunity to share music with IHS members according to specific parameters.

Parameters: The music appropriate for this column will have the following characteristics:

• Short (about two pages in length) original works or arrangements of music in international public domain.
• Works must include at least one horn part, but can otherwise include any others, acoustical or electronic.
• Technical aspects that are playable by the majority of our membership.

These works will be treated as permanent donations to the IHS for free use by society members via the IHS website. This does not prevent the sale of these works elsewhere, and website links and/or contact information for composers/arrangers will accompany each work presented on the website, if desired. Copyright will be retained by the composer/arranger, who will ultimately be responsible for any copyright infringement. These works will not be sold by IHS, so no royalties will be paid.

Making these works available via the website does not constitute actual publication by the IHS, but the works will remain available to members in perpetuity. Additional inclusion in The Horn Call may be considered without further permission.

This column will be coordinated by a new position: IHS HornTunes Column Coordinator

Compensation: This is a volunteer position in service to the society. The person appointed to this position will be reviewed annually, and continue in the position subject to Advisory Council approval.

Qualifications:

• Sufficient experience to evaluate music submissions such that they fit the prescribed parameters.
• Ability to communicate effectively with composers/arrangers regarding formatting and other logistical aspects of music notation and online presentation.
• Demonstrated willingness to be a proactive and responsive moderator of this column.

Expectations:

• Make regular contributions/postings on the website, hopefully as frequently as monthly, but at least quarterly, based on submissions.
• Promote this service to society members, both in soliciting donations and in publicizing works available to members.
• Provide an annual report to the IHS Advisory Council.

ARE YOU INTERESTED?

To apply for this position, submit the following via the application form below:

• a completed application form (including name and email contact for one reference)
• a letter describing, in your own words, your suitability for the position
• a resume

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:

Review of applications will begin December 1, 2016 and will continue until the position is filled.

For any questions, feel free to contact Jeff Snedeker, President, IHS at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you are a member, please login.  If you are not an IHS member, please create a free user account so we can confirm your interest in this position.