H orn players in orchestras often ment.
n ment. The second valve will change
see parts written in a key other
than F. This is most common
in music written before the invention
of valves. Horns were equipped with
interchangeable crooks of different
lengths, each of which put the horn in
a different key. Composers during this
time wrote horn parts in C and indi-
cated the key of the horn to be used.
Often, performers would need to
change crooks in the midst of a piece.
When music indicated muta in D, it
meant to change to the D crook.
Valves were originally intended to
substitute for the crooks rather than
make the horn a chromatic instru-
Horn in F open
E 2nd valve
E\> 1st valve
D 1 and 2
D\> 2 and 3
C 1 and 3
B 1,2, and 3
Bt thumb
A thumb and 2
At thumb and 1
G thumb 1 and 2
G\> thumb 2 and 3
3 8 THE INSTRUMENTALIST / MAY 2006
Any simple pieces in C will work for
the instrument to a horn in E. The
horn parts in most classical sym-
phonies only use notes from the over-
tone series; for these pieces it will be
unnecessary to change fingerings.
Transposing is playing in a key dif-
ferent than what is printed. Regardless
of which key is intended, orchestral
horn parts are written in C, so the
trick is to look at music in C and know
the interval between the written note
and the actual pitch intended.
One of the most common transposi-
tions is to horn in E\> and 1 start with
this key. Students are taught to figure
which key to think in based on three
known facts: the student's horn is in F,
the composer wrote for horn in Ek, and
the music is in C. As F (the horn's key)
is to E\> (the requested key), C (the
written key) is to Bk so students will
read all their music one whole step
lower, because this is the difference
between C and Bk It is important to
establish the key rather than simply
the interval because with the key stu-
dents know whether to play a note flat,
sharp, or natural.
Horn in E"* Play
I-
transposition exercises. An orchestral
piece that calls for horn in E\> is the
Overture to Mignon by Ambroise
Thomas. This can be found in volume
one of French Horn Passages compiled
by Max Pottag (Belwin Mills).
As students grow comfortable with
E<>, I teach them to transpose for horn
in D. The method is identical to that
for E\> horn; as F is to D, C is to A.
Students should read the music down a
third and play any Fs, Cs, and Gs
sharp, as though the key signature was
A major.
Horn in D Plai
=
The "Hunting Chorus" from Der
Freischuetz by Carl Maria von Weber is
written for horn in D.
Parts for horns in E, Dk, and B,
which is called H in German, are also
usually transposed down, and horns in
A, Ak G, and G» or Ft usually trans-
pose up. Figuring intervals and keys
works well for all keys except E, for
which it is best to play all notes flat
(or double flat if they were already
flat) and Fl, which can be played as
though all notes were sharp.
 Orchestral horn parts in C are not
played in concert pitch; they are
played an octave lower. It is best to
play the notes a fourth lower and pre-
tend there is one sharp in the key sig-
nature. Horn parts in Bl>, called B in
German, should usually be transposed
I
down a fifth; this is called BP basso.
Some parts will specify BP alto, in
which notes should be played up a
fourth, but parts that are not specified
as basso or alto should be played basso.

Orchestral Horn Parts

In Keys Other than F
A - Beethoven, Symphony in
A Major
G - Rossini, Barber from Seville
G \> — Haydn, Farewell Symphony
Transposition is a useful skill for all Gayle Chesebro teaches horn, music
E — Mendelssohn, "Nocturne" musicians, but hornists will use it much history, 20th century music, and brass
from the incidental music to more frequently than people who play ensembles at North Greenville
A Midsummer Night's Dream other instruments, with the possible University. She earned a doctorate in
DP — Bellini, Nachtivanderin exception of the trumpet. A fun way to brass pedagogy from Indiana University.
practice is to play a simple duet in all She is currently principal horn with the
C — Schubert, C Major Symphony 11 transpositions with a friend. I rec- Greater Anderson Chamber Orchestra
Mozart - Don Giovanni ommend the Auber "Fra diavolo" and also plays with the Hendersonville
B - Brahms, Second Symphony excerpt from the Pottag book. Students Symphony, the Heritage Chamber
who can transpose into any key will Players, and the Aurora Brass Quintet.
B \> - Beethoven, Ninth Symphony never need to worry about orchestral She has done numerous solo recitals and
works they might encounter. concerto performances.

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