I realised that as I was going through this week I have been (subconsciously so far) picking different types of musical group that I have been a part of at some time – Concert Band, Orchestra, Brass Ensemble…. So I decided that I should continue that for the rest of the week.
Today’s grouping is Horn Ensemble – specifically Horn Trios. When I was a member of the Glasgow Arts Centre Orchestra the other two regular horn players, Hugh Seenan and Kenny MacLean, and I used to regularly play the Antonin Reicha horn trios during breaks – before rehearsal – after rehearsal – basically any time we could get together. Unless you are/were a horn player you probably do not know this music. The exact date of composition is unknown, but it was the early 1800s.
There are a total of 24 trios – each quite short – in the collection and they span a large number of different musical forms. Playing them is very much an exercise in technique – and playing this sort of chamber music is a great way to develop many skills as a player. It is certainly the sort of playing that would improve the skills of many brass players who do not get the opportunity, perhaps, to play in small groups too often.
We played them so much that the conductor asked us to perform some in one of the Orchestra’s concerts. I cannot remember precisely which of the 24 we played, but I suspect that most of book four was included as those were probably our most rehearsed. I also remember that we usually swapped the parts around – so that we were all familiar with all three parts (they require different skills – especially the third part which is the ‘bass’ of the arrangements. On YouTube you can find recordings of each of the four books (if you find them intriguing – maybe someone will)
Hope you enjoy this rather different playing.