"Hornish Rhapsody"

[snorlax]

I am told that you will never make it on the TV program, "So You Think You Can Dance".

Good horn players can play in all of the registers that I used in this piece. I will admit that this composition is extremely difficult to play even for a virtuoso performer like Dennis Brain.

Thanks for your input, my friend.

Best,

Larry,
I was also a loser on the radio program "So you think you can walk and chew gum at the same time?" Pretty boring on the radio, actually.

Since I am Jim Brainless, as opposed to Dennis Brain, I am able to get through an occasional piece successfully, mostly by luck.

In fact, I will be playing a real, honest-to-goodness EUPHONIUM CONCERTO in a year. With a real good college conservatory wind ensemble. With the person for whom it was composed wielding the baton. With the composer in the audience, even.

Actually, your piece lies pretty well on the euphonium, except for my occasional need to breathe. I played along a bit. Fun!! I don't think there was a note above C5, but I can't recall right now. (I call C4 middle C)

The low C that starts the piece is a real honkin' note on my teutonic monster compensating euphonium, and I'm good on the high end up to the F an octave and a fourth above middle C on that instrument. I play french horn parts on my "littler" euphonium in my brass quintet and sometimes cover a horn part in a large brass ensemble if a player doesn't show. But I play right-handed and can't stick my fist in the bell of the euphonium very easily. I also miss fewer notes.

Did you know that the horn actually has the same total tube length as the F tuba?

As you may conclude, I am having a bout of insomnia this evening.

Snor (actually not snoring now ) lax

[Larry G. Alexander]

A while back I was listening to some Jazz horn players (I think
our elder statesman Bob DeCelle sent me the link -- which of
course I cannot now find) -- and these guys can get truly
astonishing agility out of the instrument, seemingly anywhere
in the range. Regardless of their gymnastics, I do think any
accomplished player could handle this fairly well.

Thanks for another good listen, Larry!

Best,


David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com

Thanks for your message, my Connecticut friend.

My best to you.

[Larry G. Alexander]

Larry,
I was also a loser on the radio program "So you think you can walk and chew gum at the same time?" Pretty boring on the radio, actually.

Since I am Jim Brainless, as opposed to Dennis Brain, I am able to get through an occasional piece successfully, mostly by luck.

In fact, I will be playing a real, honest-to-goodness EUPHONIUM CONCERTO in a year. With a real good college conservatory wind ensemble. With the person for whom it was composed wielding the baton. With the composer in the audience, even.

Actually, your piece lies pretty well on the euphonium, except for my occasional need to breathe. I played along a bit. Fun!! I don't think there was a note above C5, but I can't recall right now. (I call C4 middle C)

The low C that starts the piece is a real honkin' note on my teutonic monster compensating euphonium, and I'm good on the high end up to the F an octave and a fourth above middle C on that instrument. I play french horn parts on my "littler" euphonium in my brass quintet and sometimes cover a horn part in a large brass ensemble if a player doesn't show. But I play right-handed and can't stick my fist in the bell of the euphonium very easily. I also miss fewer notes.

Did you know that the horn actually has the same total tube length as the F tuba?

As you may conclude, I am having a bout of insomnia this evening.

Snor (actually not snoring now ) lax

Good luck with the euphonium concerto. I know you'll do a super job.

I didn't know the bit about the tube length. Thanks for enlightening me.

I appreciate your input. It's good to hear from you, Mister Jim.

Best,