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Re: French Horns

On 16 May, brassman <brassman@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I would like to see one of your 10tet scores. I have a book of charts
> that I arranged for ten (I call it a dectet) with 4 trumpets (everyone
> doubles), 1 french horn, 3 trombones, 1 euphonium and 1 tuba with
> optional percussion. (some with rhythm section). 

"You call it dectet, I call it 10tet, let's call the whole thing off" :-)

I write for Bob Ross' "Blechblaser der Munchner Philharmoniker" (Munich
Philharmonic Brass Ensemble). Bob tells me "Blechblaser" means Brass
Damage, as in automobile wrecks :-) This group has 5 trumpets, 1 horn, 2
trombones (tenor and bass), euph and tuba. I always feel that this and the
PJBE are understrengthed in the horn department and surprising, seeing as
how Bob is a french hornist himself.

> Howard Snell uses 1 Eb cornet, 2 Bb cornets, 1 Flugelhorn, I tenor horn,
> 1 baritone, 1 tenor trombone. 1 bass trombone, 1 euphonium, Eb tuba and
> percussion.  

Yes, this is the same instrumentation as in my 10tet charts. I think it
makes more sense than the PJBE line up. Having 2 horns (or tenor and bari)
gives more support to the middle band, and this adds up to 2 brass
quintets, which can be split in different ways including:

Two relatively balanced sections, such as:

1. Eb cornet/trumpet, Bb cornet/trumpet, horn, euph, bass trombone.
2. Bb cornet/trumpet, flugel, horn, tenor trombone, bass tuba.

Or cylindrical and conical:

1. 3 trumpets, 2 trombones.
2. Flugel, 2 horns, euph and tuba.

In my published sets, I supply parts in F for french horns to cover tenor
and bari horns and tenor trombone, as well as bass clef options for the
low band.

> I wonder why he stopped doing it.

Maybe because, as Alistair (hope I got the spelling correct this time :-)
says, everything has to be standardized and the PJBE is now the "official"
instrumentation that has to be used at all times. You can't go around
inventing your own instrumentation ;-)

> This past Christmas I arranged two double quintets for the Canadian rass
>  and the New York Philharmonic Brass joint Christmas Show at incoln
>  Center. I didn't like using two tubas but when you're hired.... you're
>  hired.

But the euphonium is a tuba. That with the bass makes 2.

> How do I get the CD with the 100 trombones Adrian?  That sounds
> interesting.... especially with George Roberts and Lloyd Ulyate (two of
> my favorite trombone players).

I don't know yet if it is available. It was recorded by Sony/Columbia, so
I guess that is the label to look for. George Roberts very kindly made me
an "illegal" copy.

> Hang in there Alastair.........

Seconded....

> P.S.  Adrian, who does your copying or do you use a computer?  Finale?

Can't afford a copyist these days. I use Sibelius software for music
preparation. I have designed my own music and texts fonts so that the
print out now looks very close to professionally hand written pen and ink
manuscript. At present, Sibelius is only available for Acorn computers,
but will soon be ready for Mac and PC markets.

Cheers, Adrian

-- 
  ____    _ _
 /    \ _| (_)___   _____ ADRIAN DROVER 
|  ()  / _ | / _ \_( ___/ INNOVATIVE ORCHESTRAL SERVICES
|__/\__\___|_\___/____)   http://www.gemscore.demon.co.uk/   
Business:  adios@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx		     
Personal: adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  (Glasgow, Scotland)


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