Written "A" (horn in F) played on Thumb Valve alone tends to be quite flat. Reason? Simple: its position in the overtone series as 5th (a1) and 10th (a2) harmonics. Most good horn players don't play a1 with anything other than T12 as their primary fingering, although many horn players have an alternate fingering for a2 - this usually depends on the horn as much as the player. A1 also tends to sound very "euphonium-ish" played thumb valve alone. Of course, in ultra-rapid passages, all this is moot! For a2, you need to try T12, T3 and T in front of a tuner and see where they stand. I've found that I like having three different options and will choose depending on the musical context and the key/chord structure. One other minor item to think about - T12/T3 are 12th harmonics whilst T is a 10th harmonic, offering slightly more security. For me, that's not an issue, but I do know some hornists are cautious about playing soft entrances on a2 with the "longer" horn fingerings.
Just some ramblings after a long day. Scott --- Steve Freides <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Forgive all the questions from me but I'm delighted > to have found you folks. > Here's a real-world question for you: > > I'm playing "Deck The Halls", you know, the > Christmas Carol, in concert > B-flat. It's so very easy, and so very nice > sounding, just to hold down the > thumb key and do the whole thing that way, but the > pitch of the concert D is > definitely lower than if I play it 1/2. The reason > I'm playing it is > because I did up a 2-horn arrangement for me and my > son to play. > > If you're playing just two horns and in the key of > concert B-flat, would you > choose to use the thumb key and no valves for the > concert D or would you use > 1/2? I guess the answer would depend, at least in > part, on which fingering > my sons uses, no? His teacher has given him simple > instructions - above > written G (concert middle C), use the thumb key. I > don't want to confuse my > son, so let's say the question just involves two > adult, dare I say > professional, horn players - would you stick with > the B-flat horn and the D > straight from the unvalved overtone series or would > you choose the even > temperament version fingered 1/2? > > Many thanks in advance. > > -S- > > _______________________________________________ > post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/hornhog%40yahoo.com > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
