Horn Music

Variations on the Hymn--Amazing Grace. Composed for a presentation by John Heilman for the Auburn University Research Council, March 1997. University Division Solo Horn Selection, American Horn Competition, 2001

Grade: 5

Recorded by Andrew Pelletier on MSR Classics 1168: Celebration: Horn Music of Randall Faust****

Recorded by David Griffin on compact disc: For You: Music for French Horn and Piano

Recorded by Randall Faust on Fantasies on American Themes

 Call and Response for Solo Horn-Randall Faust, horn

Andrew Pelletier, May 2018. Performance starts at 9:50.             

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Fleeting images of a Middle Eastern bazaar appear in muted colors that fade in and out. The morning begins slowly, as merchants get ready for the day ahead. Somewhere in the distance the bazaar begins and the marketplace builds in activity and excitement. The market activity peaks and gradually subsides, and the aftermath gives way to the evening. The dreamer is finally transported away from the Casbah with memories of the day's excitement trailing behind.  -Jeffrey Snedeker, November 2016

Grade: 4

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Composed for Douglas Campbell. A major new work for Solo Horn--exploiting the study of the harmonics of the horn as practiced by Dr. Douglas Campbell and the composer. First performance--Interlochen Center for the Arts--Summer, 1996
Recorded by Randall Faust on Fantasies on American Themes

Grade: 5-6 Harmonielehre for Solo Horn-Randall Faust, horn Learn More

This work was inspired by the composer's study of the chants and dance rhythms of Native Americans. Performed by the composer at the International Horn Symposium in Munich in 1989. Grade: 5 Learn More

Solo work that explores the technique of stopping the horn. Composed for Marvin Howe.

In 1972 THE HORN CALL published part of a short treatise by Marvin Howe on Stopped Horn (1968).  In this short treatise, Marvin Howe discussed an effective method for improving stopped horn technique. The essential statement was that closing the hand in the bell of the horn, lowers the pitch to a half-step above the next lowest partial in the harmonic series.”  The subsequent letters to the editor of THE HORN CALL became what was known as “The Great Stopped Horn Debate.”  Rather than write a letter to the editor, I chose to compose this Prelude—to illustrate the techniques discussed by Marvin Howe.  (REF)

Interestingly enough, the review of this composition also became an ongoing discussion between the reviewer-Dr. Gayle Chesebro, the Editor of the Horn Call-Paul Mansur, and Dr. Howe.   So, this composition, itself, also became part of “The Great Stopped Horn Debate”!

In many ways the composition is a dialog between the outdoor horn-with little fanfares on open notes of the harmonic series-and the indoor horn-with open-stopped glissandi-created by closing the right hand inside the horn.  In the end, regardless of whether one is projecting open notes or stopped notes, the harmonic series always wins the debate! Grade: 5 University Division Solo Horn Selection--American Horn Competition, 1991, 1994, 1997, & 2001.

Recorded by Randall Faust on Fantasies on American Themes. Prelude for Solo Horn-Randall Faust, horn

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