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Horn
Bibliography |
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This is intended to
be a short, and by no means comprehensive, listing of useful
resources for players and teachers of the horn.
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Histories
and Books About the Horn |
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Farkas, Philip. The
Art of French Horn Playing. Evanston: Summy-Birchard, 1956.
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Often called "the bible of horn playing" this
was one of the earliest modern books about horn
technique by a major
performer. There are very few questions about playing
the horn that can not be answered with this source, and
it continues to be quoted by important players and
teachers. |
Coar, Birchard. The French Horn. Dekalb, Illinois: By the author, 1947.
Coar, Birchard. Nineteenth Century Horn Virtuosi in France Dekalb,
Illinois: By the author, 1947.
Janetzky, Kurt and
Bernhard Brüchle. The Horn. translated by James Chater.
Portland: Amadeus Press, 1988.
Janetzky, Kurt and
Bernhard Brüchle. A pictorial history of the Horn. Tutzing:
Schneider, 1976.
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While these books do not contain as much practical
advice on playing the horn, they are all well written
and provide a wealth of information on the history of
the instrument.
All of these books have become standard resources on the
history of the horn, and the 2 by Janetzky and Brüchle
are available at many public libraries. |
Tuckwell, Barry.
Horn. Yehudi Menuhin music guides Series. New York: Schirmer
Books, 1983.
Tuckwell, Barry.
Playing the horn : a practical guide. London : Oxford University
Press, 1978
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books provide a mix of practical advice and history, and
are in many library collections. Any horn player
who does not also recognize the author's name should
immediately search for some of his solo recordings. |
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Method & Étude Books |
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Concone,
Giuseppe. Lyrical Studies
for Trumpet or Horn. Transcribed by John F. Sawyer.
(Nashville: The Brass Press, 1972)
These
were originally vocalises, which are now in common use by most
brass instruments.
Gallay,
J. F. 12 Études for
Second Horn, op. 57. (San Antonio: Southern Music Company,
198?)
These
are standard études by a 19th century virtuoso. The
are appropriate to college freshman, or good high school
seniors.
Getchell,
Robert W. First Book of
Practical Studies for French Horn. (Miami: Belwin Mills,
1961 renewed 1989)
An
excellent source of exercises for beginners, this book is
exactly what the title implies. It is a collection of beginners
ètudes, not a beginning method.
Kling,
Henri. Hornschule.
From
one of the German virtuosi of the 19th century, this
is still an effective first book of exercises, and it includes a
short pictorial history of the horn.
Kling,
Henri. 40 Characteristic
Studies.
A
good advanced study. All the études are musically satisfying.
Kopprasch,
Carl. Sixty Selected
Studies for French Horn. revised by Gumbert[sic], Friederich
and Albin Frehse. (New York: Carl Fischer, 1939)
The
technical bible for horn players, this is the next step after
Getchell or the Kling, Hornschule.
Alphonse,
Maxime. Deux cents Études
Nouvelles Mélodiques et Progressives pour cor. 6 volumes
(Paris: Alphonse Leduc, 1924)
A
very complete series of exercises to develop both technical and
musical proficiency. Volume 6 is seldom encountered because of
its difficulty.
Mueller,
B. E. 34 Studies.
A
good advanced study. All the études are musically satisfying.
Pottag,
Max. Preparatoy Melodies
to Solo Work for French Horn. (New York: Belwin Mills, 1941,
renewed 1969)
These
melodies provide training in playing good phrases, and cover
most musical cliché's. They are an important supplement to
books like the Kopprasch.
Robinson,
William C. Illustrated
Method for French Horn. edited by Philip Farkas. (San
Antonio: Southern Music Company, 1968)
This
is a good book for beginning, like instrument instruction. It
has good pictures of holding position, right hand position, and
embouchure.
Sansone,
Lorenzo. A Modern Method
for the French Horn. (San Antonio: Southern Music Company,
1940, revised 1952)
This
book is still useful, but a bit dated. |
(Please let me know if you
find any of these outdated, or if you find a site I should include.)
Tom
Bacon's "Horn Planet"
http://www.hornplanet.com/
This site
contains some good basic reference materials and links, a wonderful
short history with pictures, and pedagogical materials (how to play).
The Horn Players FAQ
http://www.asband.org/Hornfaq.shtml
This is an excellent site for basic information, and it is now at a
stable address. It contains a lot of information about the International
Horn Society, the horn mailing list, and other topics of interest.
Dr.
John Q. Ericson’s Articles Online
http://www2.potsdam.edu/CRANE/ericsojq/articles_online.htm
More
than you can handle knowing about the horn, its history, and its
technique. This site contains many well researched and well documented
articles on the entire history of the horn, and is the richest on-line
source I know of for information on the transitional period from natural
to valve horn.
International
Horn Society
http://www.hornsociety.org/
This is the professional organization for the horn. It has, as a major
part of its mission, the promotion of the horn and horn playing at all
levels. It includes many links to sites with articles, pictures, music,
etc.
Some articles from their magazine, the "Horn Call," can
also be found here. It is a worthwhile organization to join for anyone, amateur
or professional, who is serious about playing the horn.
Hans
Pizka's Site
http://www.pizka.de/
One of
the most important European players and teachers of the current
generation, his site includes considerable Information about the
history, literature, and technique of the horn. He also publishes music
for the horn. This site is available in both English and German, and
provides resources too numerous to list here.
Robert
King Music
http://www.rkingmusic.com/
Robert King is a large and fairly comprehensive source for brass music. Their catalog is now
available as a searchable database on this site.
Thompson
Editions
http://www.thompsonedition.com/
A new specialty
publisher/distributor of music for horn, this company is meant to fill
in the gaps in the Robert King catalog. They will also search for
specialty items, and sometimes even negotiate for publication rights of
rare pieces. I have found them to be very helpful and easy to work with,
and recommend them highly.
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