Music For Horns

Reflections is a slow, chorale-like work that looks like a 4-part choir transcription on paper. The range used is quite limited, and in the lower register of the instrument, therefore making this an excellent piece for beginners. Most of the work consists of solo lines in the 1^st horn (the only one to come close to the upper register), an ostinato-like accompaniment figure in horns 2 and 3, and a matching (repeating) bass line in horn 4.

Oddly the score and parts in this edition don’t quite match, both in terms of tempo, as well as metronome marking. In addition, as with other Cortett editions, the score is in sounding pitch, which is highly irritating. An added extra is the alternate ending provided, giving a “hopeful” alternative to the original “sober” finale. Technically speaking it’s a major chord in root position (hopeful) instead of a major seventh chord in 2^nd inversion (somber and “bluesy”).

The title page reads “Reflection for four or multiples of four horns”. In fact, this piece could work well with two or more antiphonal horn quartets, and so could be an interesting option for the beginners of a horn studio.