by Angelo Nuzzo, IHS Country Representative in Austria
The horn playing tradition in Vienna is strongly bound to the well-known Vienna horn as well as to the Classical composers who explored and established its value as a solo instrument (Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven) or who fully exploited its potential in large symphonic works (Bruckner and Mahler). This tradition is proudly continued and best performed by players in the top professional Viennese orchestras; yet there also exists a significant community of amateur players and educational systems which share the same pride and live the same culture.
In our contribution to IHS53 this past summer, we produced two videos to show how Vienna also offers non-professional players a unique environment where tradition and modernity coexist, and where locals and internationals are joined together, bound by the common passion of making music with this wonderful instrument. With that in mind, in our presentation, we took a brief historical journey exploring what an amateur ensemble might enjoy performing in the city and surroundings of Vienna, whether anchored in the most traditional or extended to the most modern.
Watch the videos
The first of the two contributions is from Hornissimum, a Vienna horn ensemble founded in Baden bei Wien; and the second is by the horn section of the University of Vienna Philharmonic. The intent of the first is to give a concrete example of the traditional, while the latter aims to provide a taste of how the educational system in Vienna offers possibilities based on more contemporary music, exploiting the talents of its community of students from all over the world.
In summary, we hope to show that no matter what level of playing ability one has reached, whatever one’s geographical origin, or whatever musical taste one has, a horn player will always feel at home in Vienna!
