Forwarded on to the main list because I replied to Steve privately by accident…
Robert N. Ward Principal Horn San Francisco Symphony [email protected] Begin forwarded message: > From: Steve Haflich <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Hornlist] Triple horns > Date: August 12, 2011 9:13:27 PM PDT > To: Robert Ward <[email protected]> > Cc: [email protected] > Reply-To: [email protected] > > Bob-- > > That is very interesting to learn -- both that you have used the > Pumpenhorns, and especially that you find they change the entire sound > of the orchestra. > > In recent years, when I'm in shape and think I can get away with it, I > often play entirely on the F side. I have my own theories why this > works so well (except for the occasional fracqued notes, but that's my > limitation as a player) but we could discuss them someday. Back around > a decade ago when I was principal of the Palo Alto Phil I started > playing more and more on the F side. When I did, I noticed the other > principal winds were likely to comment that my playing sounded specially > nice that night. (I trusted those player's opinions, even if they were > woodwind players. But I never bothered trying explaining to them.) The > last time I did the big psycho-unstable Tchaik 5 solo I did it entirely > on the F side. This was under a guest conductor, and it went OK, but > after the concert the regular condctor, the dearly departed Gideon Grau > who was a fine old-school violinist and conductor, went out of his way > to tell me that my solo was the best he had ever heard it played. At > the time I took this as obligato buttering up of his principal, but it > was really outside Gideon's character unnecessarily to praise a > principal, or anyone else for that matter. (He chewed my out many more > times!) > > I believe the F horn still has a lot going for it. I'll explain further > if you like. > > Robert Ward <[email protected]> wrote: > > Absolutely - I still own that one, and Jon Ring owns two - an old one made > by Uhlmann from the late 1800's and > a newer one that's a Yamaha prototype from about 30 years ago. There are > only 4 of them. Recently I had the > chance to play a Jungwirth one that a friend owns - fantastic instrument. > Perhaps in the future I can get one > of those - one of the Vienna Phil players offered to get us together with > Jungwirth and try a few. > > Also, we have played them in the orchestra on some not too difficult pieces > - very fun and it totally changes > the sound of the orchestra. Interesting and revealing. > > Take it easy. > > These days I'll take it any way I can get it. > > Meanwhile, I notice your reply about the Punpenhorn was addressed only > to me, although I posted the question to the list. If you intended the > reply only for me, that's fine, but otherwise either you or I could > forward it to the list. Why not? _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
