Videos from IHS 48 - Ithaca
Ithaca Impressions: A Video Collage
A Taste of Brazil: Radegundis Tavares shows us how to make tapioca cakes!
Lesson for a Peak Performance
by Gail Williams
In thinking about this article, so many people have given wonderful advice and perspective. I thought I would add to what has been written and add some of my soul-searching ideas. How does one teach students to think about the importance of practicing now for the future? We are so worried and stressed about the present; we forget we are preparing for the next 40+ years.
HOW? Let us think about building a big Triangle and the concept of a big base for success and longevity. (these concepts were taken from Hal Higdon’s marathon book). Injuries occur when our training is short, or our base of our triangle is short. Mental training, flexibility, strength and endurance all come from the base of this triangle.
If we think that the left part of the triangle is our left-brain, and right side of triangle is the performing, we can start to build this base and have a very high peak of the triangle for a peak performance.
Mental training, where to start? If I were to have time to list all the books that are now available, this article would be VERY long. But a good starting place would be “Inner Game of Tennis” by Timothy Gallwey, “Audition Success and Performance Success” by Don Greene, “Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle, to name a few, but Everyone needs to find their own focus. Meditation, biofeedback, yoga and many other options are a few suggestions. In this fast paced world, we all need to choose “something”! Learning your best way to “stay in the music,” as Mr. Herseth would say and “always Perform and Sing.”
Interview of the Month: Paul Basler
Whether it’s as a professor (University of Florida Teacher of the Year, Fulbright Senior Lecturer in Nairobi, Kenya,) horn player (orchestral and solo engagements on several continents,) or composer (works performed regularly around the globe,) Paul combines his formidable talents with a gentle, friendly attitude and emphasis on the search for what truly matters in music and life in general: relationship, connection, beauty. Read on for a peek into the mind of this gifted artist! -KMT
Kristina Mascher-Turner: Are you a morning or an evening composer? Where's your favorite place to write music?
Paul Basler: I am a morning composer. My favorite place to compose is in my music studio at home on my Yamaha studio upright piano and also between horn lessons at the University of Florida in my studio.
KMT: Would you say that you belong to a certain "school" of composition?
PB: No!
KMT: I've enjoyed performing your "Ken Bits" around the world over the past several years. Your beautiful "Missa Kenya" also draws its inspiration from Kenyan folk music. Can you tell us about your time as a Fulbright lecturer in Kenya and how it affected you personally and musically?
PB: My year in Kenya (1993-94) and subsequent visits were so special. My music became cleaner and more accessible. I did not need to be so “intellectual.” And I came to realize that relationships are more important than success.
KMT: Which do you enjoy more, playing the horn or writing music?
PB: This is a difficult question to answer! I enjoy both equally!
KMT: Which piece by another composer do you wish you had written?
PB: James Naigus’ Soundings for horn and synthesizer – this is one of the most wonderful new pieces.
KMT: What advice would you give young composers writing for the horn today?
PB: Believe in rests! Really. So many pieces for horn do not have enough rests.
KMT: Your latest premiere at the Northwest Horn Symposium, "Passages" for flute, horn, and piano, came about with the assistance of the Meir Rimon Commissioning Assistance Fund. Do you write all your works nowadays on commission? If not, is there a difference in your process and feeling towards a work when you aren't on a commission? How do you get yourself in the right frame of mind?
James Naigus - Rimon Commisions
James Naigus, currently Visiting Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Iowa, is our youngest featured artist in this month’s newsletter. His teachers include Paul Basler, Jeffrey Agrell, Bryan Kennedy, Adam Unsworth, and Soren Hermansson. James is a frequent guest artist at IHS regional and international symposia, most recently at IHS47 in Los Angeles. His sonorous, melodic compositions have enjoyed increasing popularity in the horn world of late, including two works written through the Meir Rimon Commissioning Assistance Fund: Beale Suite (for horn quartet) and Spectra (for horn, trombone, and piano.)
Have a listen to both of these pieces here:
Beale Street: https://soundcloud.com/jnaigus/sets/beale-suite
Spectra: https://soundcloud.com/jnaigus/sets/spectra-demo
For more recordings and information, please visit http://jamesnaigus.com/home.html
Kerry Turner - Rimon Commissions
Kerry Turner Discusses his compositions that were commissioned with support from the Meir Rimon Commissioning Assistance Fund. Click the image to see the video.
Six Quick Fixes to Horn Playing
Bill VerMeulen, Principal Horn of the Houston Symphony Offers his Six Quick Fixes. Click the image to see the video.
Soufflons ensemble les 40 bougies de l'AFC !
English version
En 2016, l'Association Française du Cor fête ses 40 ans d'existence au travers de quatre festivals très différents et complémentaires en France :
- AULNAY a rassemblé début février de nombreux cornistes, internationaux (tels Marie-Luise Neunecker, Kristina Mascher et Kerry Turner, Bruno Schneider) et français (impossible de célébrer ici nommément chacun des merveilleux contributeurs invités par Daniel Catalanotti, ex président AFC) sur une scène éclectique et festive mêlant cor moderne, cor naturel, trompes de chasse, cor des Alpes, conques marines, jazz… Un hommage particulier fut rendu aux femmes cornistes, le tout culminant dans un superbe concert de près de 4 heures.
- PARIS fin mars a réuni avec succès de très nombreux passionnés pour ses « Rencontres du Cor » autour de deux objectifs novateurs : en premier lieu, développer les relations entre les classes de cor de province et de Paris. Par exemple, elles offrirent à des étudiants de tous horizons l’opportunité de participer à des classes de maîtres avec Benoît de Barsony (cor solo Orchestre de Paris, président de l’AFC), Vladimir Dubois (cor solo Opéra de Paris), Hervé Joulain (cor solo Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France) et André Cazalet (cor solo Orchestre de Paris, professeur au Conservatoire de Paris). Ou encore d’assister à une conférence passionnante de Michel Garcin-Marrou (membre honoraire de l‘IHS, cor solo Orchestre de Paris, professeur aux Conservatoires de Lyon et Paris) sur le Larghetto d’Emmanuel Chabrier, etc. Ces rencontres ont ensuite permis pour la première fois en France de constituer un grand ensemble de plus de 20 cornistes issus des pupitres des meilleures orchestres parisiens - rejoints par les étudiants pour le concert final.
- SALLAUMINES (qui jouxte la ville de LENS dans l’ancien bassin minier du nord de la France) proposera fin mai à l’initiative de Vincent Huart - précédent président AFC - des concerts de quatuors et grands ensembles de cors, de cor des Alpes, des classes de maîtres originales, le tout dans une atmosphère chaleureuse propre à cette région. Ce festival offrira aussi une séance de dédicace avec un compositeur et interprète, un concours pour les jeunes cornistes (niveau 3ème cycle), des expositions ainsi que des présentations éducatives pour les écoles autour de notre instrument.
- AVIGNON célébrera aussi fin juin son 20ème Festival du Cor organisé par Eric Sombret, depuis le mémorable Symposium IHS qui eut lieu en 1982 dans le cadre du Palais des Papes. Au travers de nombreux concerts et spectacles de solistes et d’ensembles de cors, des cornistes de premier plan, étudiants, amateurs du sud de la France et d'Europe feront retentir notre instrument dans le cœur de cette ville historique.
Come and Blow the AFC's 40 Candles Out!!
In 2016, the Association Française du Cor - that stands for France’s Horn Society - celebrates its 40th anniversary through four very different and complementary horn festivals in France :
1st Highlight : AULNAY early February gathered many international (Marie-Louise Neunecker, Kristina Mascher and Kerry Turner, Bruno Schneider..) and French horn players (quite a challenge to name all the contributors invited by organiser and former AFC president Daniel Catalanotti) up around an eclectic programme on modern, natural, hunting, marine, jazz, Alp horns, and a special tribute to the female horn players, culminating in a 4 hours concert.
2nd Highlight : PARIS mid-March successfully pursued 2 innovative objectives : first, enhance the relationship between the French provinces and Paris horn classes. It for instance offered students from everywhere the opportunity to participate in master-classes with Benoît de Barsony (Orchestre de Paris principal, AFC President), Vladimir Dubois (Opéra de Paris principal), Hervé Joulain (Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France principal) and André Cazalet (Orchestre de Paris principal, Professor at the Conservatoire de Paris). Or to attend a fascinating lecture by Michel Garcin-Marrou (IHS Honorary Member, former Orchestre de Paris principal and Professor at the Conservatoires de Lyon and Paris) on Emmanuel Chabrier’s Larghetto, etc. Second, enable the very first performance of a grand ensemble of more than 20 leading horn players from Paris’ best orchestras - joined by the students upon the final concert.
3rd Highlight : SALLAUMINES (abutting LENS, Northern and formerly mining area of France) will late May propose in a warm atmosphere, upon initiative from Vincent Huart (previous AFC president) : quartets and large horn ensemble concerts, original masterclasses, a composer score signing session, a competition for young hornists, exhibitions and educational presentations to the schools around our instrument.
4th Highlight : AVIGNON end of June will also celebrate its 20th Horn Festival (host Eric Sombret) since the memorable 1982 IHS Symposium that had taken place in the Popes’ Palace. With numerous concerts and shows by horn ensembles and soloists, prominent horn players, students and amateurs from Southern France and Europe will have the horn resound to its fullest in the heart of this historic city.
Like the IHS, the Association Française du Cor promotes the art, craft and fun of horn playing. It regroups numerous interprets, teachers, students and amateurs who love their golden horn. The language is usually French, but its focus is definitely on both international and French-speaking horn players. The AFC supports or organises festivals, exhibitions, concerts around the horn. It also publishes a generous magazine - La Revue du Corniste - newsletters, and acts as an information network for its members.
More information on www.associationfrancaiseducor.fr and on Facebook.
Any idea to further develop the IHS – AFC (research, editorial, events .. ) exchanges most welcome ! Please contact :
Matthieu Arnaud, member of the AFC Advisory Board
Vincent Andrieux, AFC vice-president
