I did, of course, start early with my musical education but my introduction to orchestral music really came when I moved to grammar school. The music teacher was aware that I already played a brass instrument, so when we first met his immediate question was “would you like to play the French Horn?” – things just went from there 😀
It has to be said that our school orchestra was a bit unusual – I guess many school orchestras are – in that we had more clarinet players than string players – so really we were more a sort of string-augmented wind band!! The main focus each year was the Christmas concert and I recall playing selections from My Fair Lady and South Pacific as well as some more “classical” pieces such as Bizet’s Farandole from L’Arlésienne.
The picture below is of the Orchestra in my second year at the school.
I also remember playing Lehar’s Gold and Silver Waltz as well as the music I have chosen for today’s selection. Perhaps some of those who connect back to those days can add other works that we played (or even contradict me on these ones 😳)
The Kaiser-Walzer by Johann Strauss is perhaps not his most played – but this video has some lovely pictures of Schloss Schönbrunn and it’s gardens to keep you interested while you listen.
EDIT : Sadly that video is no longer available – instead here is a classic recording conducted by Willi Boskovsky