I take a very simple approach to all these things - would you tell
your automobile mechanic, or the carpenter building your new kitchen
cabinets which tool to use?  Of course not - both know it's their
responsibility to select the right tool for each part of the job and
that, in the end, it's the results that matter, not how they got
there.

Same thing here, IMHO - find a horn that lets you play the music you
want or need to play and that's that.  Some people will do best with a
triple, others won't, and some really smart horn players will bring
out the triple when they need it but use another horn when the other
horn is best suited to the job at hand.

I realize that if you play in the horn section of a professional
orchestra, you often are required to make equipment choices along the
same lines are your colleagues, but for most of us, I think job one is
to play the music.  If a triple helps you get there, then by all
means, use a triple.

The harder question is whether or not someone who hasn't used a triple
ought to try one, and there's simply no answer to that question that
can be had - you won't know until you try it whether or not it's for
you.  This is a great reason to purchase a used instrument, IMHO - you
can, if you're patient and if you don't overpay to begin with, sell it
a few months down the road for exactly what you paid for it, coming
away from the entire experience none the poorer but some the wiser.

Me, I'd be happy to have such problems in my horn playing - I'm
thrilled when I play the right notes, in tune, at the right times.
But I think the principles here are pretty universal - the horn is a
tool, playing the music is the job, and one should use the best tools
one can afford to own that aid in getting the job done as well as
possible.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

-S-

On Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 4:14 PM, Molly White <[email protected]> wrote:
> Has anyone suggested that you ask or try to arrange for a mock audition and
> get some good feedback from others listening to you play? If feasible?
>
> Also what instruments do the other hornists in the ensemble use? Does the
> conductor have a preference (worthwhile or otherwise)?
>
> Sorry if this is a repeat of anything already suggested.
> _______________________________________________
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