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French horn players in brass bands

Tips and Tricks that muso's have learnt along the way!!

French horn players in brass bands

Postby Hornist on Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:48 am

Most of you horn players probably know this already, but if you want to play tenor horn in a brass band, it's easy. You can but a little adaptor that fits in the tenor horn and you just use your french horn mouthpiece. It sounds okay and Ive been doing it for years, playing solo horn in a B grade brass band. The typical narrow minded brass bandies (of which there are still a lot) told me you can't play a french horn mouthpiece in a tenor horn, but I prove them wrong.
Years ago I used a Mal Pearce french horn mouthpiece with a detachable rim and I got Mal to make me a tenor horn mouthpiece with a screw rim that fitted my french horn rim to. That worked too.
You can but these adaptors from any reputable music store. If you cant find one, there is a link on here to hornarama. Graham Nicholls from there stocks them.
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Postby bensimon on Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:00 am

Hi Hornist

Just thought that I'd let you know that I have moved your post to a new thread called Tips and Tricks!
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Postby Gedsa on Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:43 am

I preferred not using my FH moutpiece when playing TH. However I once forgot my adaptder and just shoved the mouthpiece in the leadpipe..........and it worked.

You can make anything work for you, even heard of a trombone moutpiece in a Fhorn thanks to a bit of Garden hose!!!!!!!!!!


Great for 4th horn parts!
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Postby Hornist on Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:26 am

I'd hate to hear the intonation on the tenor horn just shoving the French horn mouthpice in it.
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Postby bensimon on Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:27 am

I remember playing a tenor horn for a while (not in any serious capacity) and the only mouthpiece i had was my trumpet one! It seemed to fit

Could get these great high notes - no idea what they were - but couldnt get many low ones!
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Postby Bobatron on Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:37 pm

So, my slice of advice...

Whatever you do, don't use your frenchhorn in a brass band!

A couple of years ago Waratah Brass put on a concert to celebrate their 120th anniversary. They had as a guest Geoff O'Brien. He played the Strauss Concerto No. 1 (amongst other things), then joined the band for their final number - stuck out like dogs' proverbials.

So, yeah, make sure you play a TH, as wussy as they may be!

-Bob
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Postby Hornist on Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:58 pm

I was playing tenor horn in a brass band a few years ago and they were going carolling at Christmas time. I thought dammit, it's only Christmas Carols, I'll play my french horn. The stupid damn bigoted players amongst the band went off their heads. The hide of me, playing a french horn in a brass band. I told them I was bringing a bit of culture to their band. Also, a few years ago at a Battle of the Band final at St Marys Band Club, Willoughby Brass were playing an arrangement of Man From Snowy River and the horn player, Marg Evans played the solo on french horn. It sounded bloody good to my ears.
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Postby Bobatron on Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:06 pm

Hornist wrote: The stupid damn bigoted players amongst the band went off their heads. The hide of me, playing a french horn in a brass band.


*Sighs* Absolutely no surprise there. :roll:

When Geoff played the Strauss, it sounded fantastic. I'd imagine the Man from Snowy River solo would sound great too.

When he played in the band though, it cut like a band saw. He possibly, no, definately was blowing the guts out of it though :wink:
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Postby pezza on Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:18 am

In a brass band french horns are ok in solo parts. They just don't blend in the band parts. They need to play with the baritones. In a concert band they play with the euphoniums, which works.

What if I wanted to play a tenor horn in a concert band. Most of you would be against that.I can't play a french horn, but can play a tenor horn. Tenor horns (& baritones) are not wussy. You just need to know how to play them. On a baritone I have the volume but, if I'm not careful, I either sound like a trombone or a euphonium. Good for solos, but not suited to band, brass or concert, playing.

How about soprano sax? No part! Play clarinet parts?

The right instrument for the part. A brass band is not just an oversized brass section!
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Postby Hornist on Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:14 pm

I used a large bore King Eroica horn (supplied) for years when I was playing proffessionaly in a service band, but found the large bore when played in an orchestra or show, sounded more like a trombone. It was a great horn, free blowing etc, but when I changed to the slightly smaller but still blows as well Yamaha, it's a better all round instrument for the work I am doing now, ie playing in a band, woodwind quintet, playing shows and playing lead horn in an orchestra.
In regard to tenor horn playing, even though I play tenor horn in a brass band, I find that the tenor horn is like the viola in an orchestra, that is the butt of all the jokes.
My thoughts
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Postby pezza on Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:26 am

Not all jokes. They share them with the baritones!
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Postby bensimon on Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:43 am

Reminds me of a joke...

Whats the range of a tenor horn?!

Depends on how far u chuck it...........lol
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