HORNS

The earliest musical horn dates back to 4000 BC, made from a hollowed tree branch or animal horn it was a simple instrument whose more modern brass design became popular with huntsmen. There are many types of horn, the two principal ones being the single horn and the double horn. You hold the horn on your right hand side with the mouthpiece to your lips and the bell pointing backwards. Your left hand operates the valves, while the right supports the bell of the instrument or is inserted into the bell of the instrument to modify the sound - a technique unique to the horn.

The French Horn, or just "horn" for short is made from a very long, narrow tube of brass which is coiled round on itself to save space. The sound comes out of the flared bell, and is made by blowing a "raspberry" with your lips into the cup-shaped mouthpiece. You can make a number of different notes by varying the tension of your lips and pressing different combinations of the valves which divert the air through little extra lengths of tubing.

Other Horns belonging to the Brass catagory include the Tenor Horn which is also similar but much smaller, the Flugelhorn which is even smaller and the Baritone Horn which is the largest of all the Horns.

Horn Links

British Horn Society
Encourage and support the development of all Horn players in the United Kingdom inlcudes information on grants, events and links.

Dutch Hornist Society
The association of and for all hornists in the Netherlands and of course also for hornists in Belgium. Providing information, news and resources - site in Dutch.

Harrogate Brass Band
Formed in April 1970 from former Harrogate Granby High School Concert Band pupils it was the first brass band in Harrogate since the original Harrogate Silver Prize Band folded in 1956.

International Horn Society
Information about the society, members benefits include access to Thesis Lending Library, access to funding, discounts, networking, subscription to Horn Call magazine, horn related news and articles.

The Internet Bandsman's Everything Within
Information resource for brass bands worldwide is packed full of information and links to brass instrument resources, humour, organisations, services and news.

• Arizona State University Horn Studio
  Information for current and future students at ASU and useful resources for the horn world including over 65 Articles on the Performance, Literature, Design, and History of the French Horn.



• Bespoke Brass
  a new approach to music and tutors for young musicians learning the trumpet, trombone, euphonium and other wind/brass instruments



• Bobby Shew
  Site includes useful articles including Four Fundamentals of Troubleshooting for Brass Players, Understanding Slots and how to use them, Tweaking, General Info on Mutes, Chops and Changes, Playing Lead Trumpet in a Big Band Setting, Trumpet History.



• Cala Records
  A boutique, London-based label known for its creative programming and high quality recorded sound and publishing company includes music of the London Horn and London Trombone Sounds.



• Cyberhorn Museum
  Provides information about the most noble of wind instruments, the French horn including history, articles, books and historic instruments.



• The Eb/F Pitched Brass Instruments
  Site that attemptes to explain the differences between the mellophone, mellophonium, alto horn, french horn and other horns pitched to Eb or F with definitions and pictures.



• Free-Scores
  French site that provides free contemporary, classical and pedagogical free sheet music for all instruments.



• Free Sheet Music for Brass
  Selection of free sheet music for brass instruments arranged by James Moule ranging from solo, duets, trio, quartets, quintents, six and more, march scores and full band scores.



• French Horn Player's Webring
  Links and descriptions of sites whose main focus is orientated towards players of the French Horn.



• Horn Planet
  all about the French Horn plus areas devoted to the Golden Horn, Opus 90 the Saint Louis Brass Quintet and more.



• Pay The Piper UK
  So you want to play a musical instrument - a site for aspiring musicians providing free information, has sections for various instruments with information about the instrument, approximate purchasing costs