Today’s choice is another piece of music dating back to school years – in this case to school exams.
The Scottish Higher Music exam included a practical part – which was clearly different for each possible instrument. I’ve often wondered just how many people ever sat the exam with French Horn as their instrument. There was – if I remember correctly – no choice of music to perform. The three pieces were the first movement of Haydn’s 2nd Concerto, the second movement of Mozart’s 4th Concerto and the finale of Richard Strauss’ 1st Concerto – which is today’s choice.
The video accompanying this recording is the score, so you can follow (or even play) along – you can also see why I hardly ever asked anyone to accompany me on the piano in this – not the easiest 😮 I also didn’t get the opportunity to perform this concerto with an orchestra – although when the Wessex Youth Orchestra had it on their programme I did play it with them in rehearsals when they preparing before the soloist came along for the final rehearsal.
Richard Strauss : Horn Concerto No.1
Comments :
Brian Milligan
I think I remember Duncan Cameron playing this when the YP band went to Inverness in late 70’s. He was still in the YP band then do would be about 15years old at the time. Could be a false memory. I think the band accompanied him. That was fairly difficult. Can’t remember if he played it on the tenor horn or the french horn.
Brian Deans
Higher Music practical is now Grade 4 and Advanced Higher is Grade 5 but they’re not dumbing down George … honest! 🤬
Terry Hudson
Probably the same year when I had to perform this unplayable monstrosity for the same exam – my pianist had similar challenges!