Horn Quartet

The American Horn Quartet, formed in 1982, features 4 award winning American hornists who perform in well known European orchestras. As individuals, members of the quartet have won prizes in competitions in New York, Geneva, Narbonne, Prague, Markneukirchen and Munich. As a quartet, they have won first prizes at the Philip Jones International Brass Chamber Music Competition in Barcs, Hungary (1989), the Notamus International Chamber Music Competition in Brussels (1991) and the 7th Tokyo International Chamber Music Competition (1992). In it's effort to bring music of the highest calibre to it's audiences all over the world, the Quartet is ever expanding the repertoire of Horn Quartet literature. The pieces in this album were arranged by members of the Quartet and appear as they are played by the American Horn Quartet in concert.

The American Horn Quartet can be heard on CD on various labels.

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French Impressionists Vol.1
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Horn Quartet

arranged by Kerry Turner & Geoffrey Winter

1. "Le Petite Nègre" by Claude Debussy arranged by Kerry Turner
2. "Rêverie" by Claude Debussy arranged by Kerry Turner
3. "La Soirée dans Grenade" by Claude Debussy arranged by Geoffrey Winter

The American Horn Quartet, formed in 1982, features 4 award winning American hornists who perform in well known European orchestras. As individuals, members of the quartet have won prizes in competitions in New York, Geneva, Narbonne, Prague, Markneukirchen and Munich. As a quartet, they have won first prizes at the Philip Jones International Brass Chamber Music Competition in Barcs, Hungary (1989), the Notamus International Chamber Music Competition in Brussels (1991) and the 7th Tokyo International Chamber Music Competition (1992). In it's effort to bring music of the highest calibre to it's audiences all over the world, the Quartet is ever expanding the repertoire of Horn Quartet literature. The pieces in this album were arranged by members of the Quartet and appear as they are played by the American Horn Quartet in concert.

French Impressionists Vol.2
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Horn Quartet

arranged by Kerry Turner & Geoffrey Winter

1. "Pavane pour une Infante défunte" by Maruice Ravel arranged by Kerry Turner
2. "Tarantelle Styrienne" by Claude Debussy arranged by Geoffrey Winter

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was the foremost of the French Impressionistic composers. His innovative use of harmony, rhythm and melody as colour had great influence over most of the major composers of the early 20th century, not only in France but in the rest of world as well.
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), though greatly influenced by Debussy, retreated from the indistinctness of Debussy's use of melody, harmony, rhythm and structure, choosing for more functionalism in all of his compositional devices. His superb feel for and use of colour, and his conceptual use of "moods" and "atmospheres" ties him irrevocably to the French Impressionistic Period.
Ravel's Pavane pour une Infante défunte is a good example of this - a piece written with a suggestive title as in much of Debussy's music, but containing much clearer and longer melodic and harmonic lines. Composed for piano in 1899, Ravel exploited the rich inherent timbres by setting it for orchestra in 1910. Also originally composed for piano, Debussy's Tarantelle Styrienne gently plays with the ambiguity of the 3/4 and 6/8 meters. It was republished in 1903 as "Danse".

Five Miniatures
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Horn Quartet

by C.D. Wiggins

Christopher Wiggins, born 1956 in England, studied composition at the Universities of Liverpool, Leeds and London. His prolific output includes educational, vocal, solo and orchestral music. He is becoming internationally well-known for his wide range of music for horn. His compositions have been performed in nearly 20 countries worldwide.  Since 1989 he has been actively involved in conducting concerts in Estonia. Recently he has worked as Education Director of the Classic Music Show of London and is currently studying for his Doctorate Degree in Composition. Other compositions for horn published by Phoenix Music Publications include a brass quintet called "First Dance Suite"and a work for solo horn and piano "Four Easy Sketches". He is also the featured composer in the series for variable ensemble "Passe-partout".

Concerto for 4 Horns
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Horn Quartet

by Walt Perkins

Walter Perkins was born in England in 1944 and moved to the United States in 1952, living in Rochester, New York. His musical education includes trumpet study from the age of 11, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a Master of Arts Degree in Music Education from Teacher's College, Columbia University. In 1989 he began work on a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in both Performance (trumpet) and Literature at the Eastman School of Music, studying composition with Samuel Adler. Professional activities have included 2 years of public school music teaching positions in the U.S., 3 years in the U.S. Army's West Point Band as well as extensive chamber music and Jazz performing. Since 1973, Mr. Perkins has played trumpet with the Symphony Orchestra of Radio-Tele-Luxembourg. "Concerto for Four Horns" was composed specifically for the American Horn Quartet in 1991. It is a highly challenging work, featuring each player in a solo movement. This work has been recorded on the American Horn Quartet's 2nd CD "4 x 4", available on the EBS label.

Quartet No.1
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Horn Quartet

by Kerry Turner

Composed in the summer of 1987, this piece won First Prize in the International Horn Society Composition Contest. This work was originally meant to fill a gap in the horn quartet lierature: a 20th century style piece that could be easily understood by the audience, but would prove challenging technically amd musically for the performers.

Quartet No.2,'Americana'
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Horn Quartet (opt. Snare Drum)

by Kerry Turner

The Quartet No. 2 (1988) is a musical portrait of the composer's native Texas. The wild and turbulent history combined with a unique blend of Mexican, Spanish, Indian and European cultures has created an individual spirit in the people of the American Southwest.

Fanfare for Barcs
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Horn Quartet

by Kerry Turner

The "Fanfare for Barcs" was written in 1989 for the American Horn Quartet to commemorate their overwhelming success at the 4th International Philip Jones Brass Chamber Music Competition in Barcs, Hungary. The exuberant rhythms and tightly woven motives are quite typical of the composer's style.

 

Carmen Suite
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Horn Quartet

by G. Bizet arranged by Kerry Turner

Carmen is probably the most popular opera of all times. It is the most performed of all operas, with a universal appeal that transcends cultures and generations. It has been the most filmed opera in history. Written in 1874 and first perfromed in 1875, the year of Bizet's death, it was harshly criticised and was not a success until after the composer's death. Bizet's masterly use of orchestral color heightens the dramatic pace and gives the whole opera an almost symphonic quality. The melodies are often uncomplicated and extremely engaging. Mr. Turner has captured all the charm and color of the original in this arrangement for Horn Quartet. It is sure to please any audience as well as the musicians who perform it.

Quartet in B-Flat
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Horn Quartet

by, Homilius arranged by L. Johnson

Written in the old classical style, it is a solid piece in the repertoire of traditional sounding horn quartets. 3 movements as edited by Larry Johnson of the American Horn Quartet for their performances world-wide. Not exceptionally difficult.

Capriccio
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Horn Quartet

by L. L'Abbate

A single movement work for intermediate quartet by the Italian Horn professor, Luigi L'Abbate. Playable by high school quartet.