Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your interest and questions.
Our current Classical Model 804C is our version of a medium belled horn.
This model made in red brass or yellow brass with yellow brass or ambronze
bell flare would be what many European players would like. We have several
over there currently played by professionals in Norway, Denmark and
Switzerland
and I have had inquiries of late from other Europeans.
As to American Sound, we are a large and diverse community of horn players
here. Our sounds all have European roots, though, and the two schools of
playing here evolved primarily from students of Gumpert. Anton Horner was
an F horn player and promoted the silver large belled Kruspe. Hence the 8D,
etc. Others such as Bruno Jaenicke and Willem Valkenier were B horn players,
and preferred narrower belled brass horns. Hence the Geyer, Conn 6D (now
10D) etc. That's the story in a nutshell.
Walter and Bruce Lawson successfully made designs over the years based on
those roots. Their goal was to improve sound, response, intonation with those
models listed above as the primary starting points as well as the Alex 103.
Lawson horns are refinements, not just copies, and Walter purposely designed
the wrap to be unique in the world. The early models were listed as small,
medium, medium large and large.
The small belled horns, similar to an Alex 103 played quite well and I think
Ted Thayer used one for a while in the National Symphony, coming from an
Alex 103. He switched to the Classical when it came out and the general
consensus was the Classical was a definite improvement for this type of
horn.
We could build that again but we are busy enough making the current models.
For Alex 103 players, our lead-pipes are worth a try and I have some being
play-tested now by members of a German orchestra. The Lawson's had other Alex
playing Europeans switch to our pipes in the past and I've converted Alex's
for American customers this year already.
The medium and medium large horns sold quite well, especially the medium
large. Barry Tuckwell used a medium large Lawson for several years before
signing on with Holton. Many Alex and Geyer type players also liked those.
The large horn was most popular with many being made and still being used.
The Kruspe/Conn type players primarily went for those.
The medium large and large horns evolved into the present Fourier Model
804F with changes in the tapers, multi-boring in the straight sections and the
V2 leadpipe. This is our version of a Kruspe type horn.
The small and medium horns evolved into the present Classical model 804C,
with the above listed changes done in a way to give the instrument more
resistance, what some people call slotting, I believe. This is our version
of a
Geyer type horn.
We now offer many different bell flares with the goal of satisfying the
various sound needs of different individuals. I anticipate having aftermarket
flares available soon for makes not using the Alex type screw ring.
As to the Berlin Philharmonic, players of that caliber can play on anything!
I know they currently have a close relationship with Alexander.
Previously, they were using Yamaha for a number of years. I would relish a
chance,
though, for them to try our equipment and I would welcome their opinions!
I've made crooks with our tapers for my own natural and Vienna horns and
this is something I hope to market in the future, as well.
I know you play a Rauch, and we have made pipes for those as well. Please
contact me off-list if you would like to arrange a trial.
Best wishes,
Kendall Betts
In a message dated 3/12/2009 1:01:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
horn-requ...@music.memphis.edu writes:
message: 7
date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:00:25 +0100
from: daniel.canaru...@unifi.it
subject: [Hornlist] Lawson horns (was: North East Horn Workshop)
Dear Kendall,
I have never had an opportunity of trying a Lawson, ad unfortunately I =20
can't cross the ocean right now. I have a question, though. I =20
understand, from various sources, that Lawson horns are mainly =20
designed to yield the big American sound. Is it true? Or, do you =20
produce different models, some of them suited for (say) a German type =20
of sound? Do you think a Lawson horn could be played in the Berliner =20
Philharmoniker?
(Yes, I know: it's the player, not the horn--I apologize if my =20
question is too equipment-minded...)
Daniel
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