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The French horn is a popular answer to "what's the hardest orchestral instrument?". It has longer tubing and therefore a lower fundamental frequency than a tro
by a_cardboard_box 4y ago
The French horn is a popular answer to "what's the hardest orchestral instrument?".
It has longer tubing and therefore a lower fundamental frequency than a trombone, but typically plays in a higher range.
The higher above the fundamental frequency of a brass instrument you play, the more notes can be played with a single fingering. So the French horn requires very precise lip control to get the right note.
- libraryatnight 4y agoI was a trumpet player in band and had a "Lemme try..." moment after one of the French horn players told us this. It was indeed much harder. It was sort of fun to have her do the fingerings while I tried to make sensible sounds come out of the thing. French horn has a buttery warmth I love when played well. Sounds the first cry of some newborn hellspawn in the arms of an neophyte.
- AlbertCory 4y agoMy persistence level was very low, as I said. So bear with me if I tell you that the song "Beautiful Dreamer" was the killer. I just could NOT hit that C on "dream-ER." Scott's played with every big orchestra in the Bay Area, as a sub. When their regular horn player can't make it, he's the one they call.
- jfk13 4y agoI hope all you horn players (or would-be players) are familiar with Flanders & Swann's take: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjA6bA1qtfQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjA6bA1qtfQ
- AlbertCory 4y agoThanks, never heard of them. It could use a transcript, though.