Questions tagged [french-horn]

A brass instrument made of long (approx 6 meters) tubing, wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. Actually German origin. Most horns have valves (a horn without valves is named a natural horn).

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When were the Db piccolo and the Eb horn phased out of the wind band?

In many classic wind band pieces, there are parts written for Db piccolo and Eb horn. I imagine these were more common in the genesis of the military band, but now Db piccolo is all but unheard of, ...
NReilingh's user avatar
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16 votes
9 answers
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What am I missing about learning French horn?

I started French horn lessons in April and since then I've already "fired" two teachers, both for the same reason. The reason is that they have frustrated me by refusing to explain how do to ...
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12 votes
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Shake and Growl on French Horn

I came across some interesting notation in a piece I'm playing earlier this week, and I'm really not quite sure what the composer intended for me to do. I play French Horn, and here's the notation (2 ...
Siyual's user avatar
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11 votes
4 answers
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Horn & Trumpet and Key Signatures

In reading from 100 Orchestration Tips by Thomas Goss, I've come across a tip which I'm perfectly happy accepting, but (perhaps as I'm not a horn player nor a trumpet player) I do not understand. 34. ...
Elements In Space's user avatar
10 votes
5 answers
2k views

Horn clefs across two staves

I am not a horn player, but I do have a bit of knowledge about them. Horn parts can be written in the G or F clefs, right? Is it common practice to put the first horn stave (horns 1 and 3) in the G ...
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8 votes
2 answers
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Why is french horn not written a 5th above the rest of the orchestra when it is supposed to be? [duplicate]

Here the orchestra plays in D but the french horn is written in C major when it should be written in A major. There are accidentals but I dont understan why the correct key signature is not used?
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8 votes
1 answer
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What are the advantages of different mouthpiece sizes?

I played horn from age 10 until age 22, and after a couple of years off I'm starting to play again. I was always pretty mediocre, so I was content to use my elementary-school Holton MDC mouthpiece the ...
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7 votes
1 answer
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French horn - Getting higher register

Does anyone know some good techniques or practises I can do to improve my high range on the horn relatively quick (like 2 months quick)? It can be for brass and doesn't have to be specific for horn- ...
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6 votes
4 answers
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English Horn Part played by french horn

My sister found a nice book with opera parts written for English Horn. The thing is, I play the French Horn. I've done a little bit of research on the English Horn, and found out that is also a ...
Konstantinos Vlassis's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
2k views

Writing a Mozart-style cadenza

What distinctive stylistic elements from Mozart's works should I include in a horn solo cadenza (in Horn Concerto III, Movement I) to make it fit well with the rest of the piece? (Oppositely, is there ...
Stan's user avatar
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5 votes
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How are the 4 French Horn parts in an orchestral piece paired/arranged range-wise?

I am composing a piece for full orchestra and want to make sure that my parts are conventional. I know that there are typically four horn parts, but are 1 and 2 high parts, 1 and 3, or something else?
Johnny Dollard's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
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What beats does the horn typically play on in a 2/4 march?

Wikipedia states: French Horns tend to always carry the rhythmic backup of a march. For example, in cut-time marches, they are typically assigned upbeats (the + of 1 and 2) to provide the "pah" for ...
Luke_0's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
156 views

How can I help my beginner horn players access the mid and high range?

I'm teaching trumpet, french horn, and trombone this year in a school setting. The students are around 11 years old and have all been playing for about a year. They can read music with some success ...
nuggethead's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
309 views

French Horn Handedness

Watching Britain's Young Musician of the Year, I noticed that a French horn player used her left hand to operate the valves. Most (all?) other brass instruments are configured for right hand operation....
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4 votes
1 answer
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Stopped notes in Beethoven's 2d

In David Zinman's complete Beethoven symphonies with the Tonhalle orchestra, he uses the Barenreiter edition, modern instrument, and fast tempos. In his performance the first movement of the 2d ...
user3344003's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Adding French Horn to Trumpet and Flugelhorn?

Any advice for how best to add French Horn to my arsenal given that I already play trumpet and flugelhorn? I'm quite proficient at the two and want to add a third instrument this year.
segiddins's user avatar
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1 answer
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Will the sound change when a French horn is made detachable or has been lacquered?

Is there scientific proof the sound of a French horn will change when the bell is made detachable or has been lacquered?
Beccie's user avatar
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1 answer
345 views

French horn - clicky/noisy keys

More of a practical question here. I've had clicky keys (on the French horn) for a while now and I plan to get them fixed soon. But does anyone know a temporary fix to the problem? I can't seem to ...
starlly's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
2k views

How Fast Can French Horn Play?

I'm just wondering, how fast can a French Horn play 16th notes? Like, I've got this 1 measure passage of a descending 16th note chromatic scale at 152 bpm - is that too fast? It's to be played ...
Miguel's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
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Trombone choir and French Horn choir

I’m interested in combining two instrumental groups: a trombone choir and a French horn choir. There seems to be a lot of compositions for either trombone choir, or for French horn choir, but not for ...
Bruce Simonson's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
106 views

How to play clef changes in Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity? (F Horn)

I've played horn for 8 years as a student through middle and high school and rarely come across the bass clef, except maybe twice when playing Sonata op. 10. When it comes to this piece (Jupiter, ...
Caesar's Life's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
68 views

Will the Yamaha SB3X-2 French horn silent brass work for a marching mellophone?

I play both French horn and marching mellophone, and was wondering if the Yamaha SB3X-2 French horn silent brass pickup mute would work for the mellophone, so I don’t have to buy a second mute end.
Logan Wilhelm's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

Writing a song based on the harmonic minor

I'm writing my friend a horn solo (with piano accompaniment) and I asked her what her favorite scale was and she said harmonic minor, "because it sounds Egyptian". If I was trying to write a ...
Stan's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
675 views

Horn transposing

I need help transposing a piece for the horn. I do not play it so therefore it is very difficult getting my head around this. I originally play the violin so brass instruments are totally diff. world ...
Tim's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
5k views

Articulations and Ornaments

I am currently studying some music scores, and I see some somethings that I don't know. I saw a French horn part that had a Plus (+) sign above it and it said "Stopped". I also saw a Harp Gliss. that ...
Tim 's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
605 views

Trying to figure out what sax, trumpet & french horn scales would be used to jam with a blues backing track in key of xx?

I will apologize in advance for my lack of music theory. I play guitar but self taught with no real theory. My son has been playing alto saxophone for about 6 months and has come along quite nice. ...
robertsirwin's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
179 views

What are the lowest Horn transpositions?

Are there opera parts for Horn that have transpositions lower than Bflat Basso? A Basso, A flat Basso and so on?
Caleb's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
728 views

Can I become a professional musician

Hi I am wondering if it is a good idea for me to become a professional musician? Currently I am 16 and learning piano Grade 10 (RCM) and preparing for the exam. I want to finish it, but I don't think ...
Anthony Dang's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
881 views

what is the difference between a french horn in F and a french horn in E flat (or other keys)?

I know that a french horn in F means, that instead of playing a C it plays an F, and the same with E flat. But why are there french horns in F AND french horns in E flat? Wouldn't the only difference ...
Neins's user avatar
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1 answer
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How do I play this part in 'Trois pièces brèves'? [duplicate]

How do I play this part on my french horn? From Jacques Ibert - Trois pièces brèves
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