Horn A1: g1 - bb2
Horn A2: d1 - eb2
Horn A3: a1 - g2
Horn A4: d - eb1
Horn B1: e1 - bb2
Horn B2: b - d2
Horn B3: b - g2
Horn B4: c - g1
Horn C1: d1 - bb2
Horn C2: f - d2
Horn C3: a - g2
Horn C4: F - eb1
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
Toccata for twelve is, as the cover of the edition indicates, an “antiphonal piece for three horn quartets”. Indeed this is how the parts are numbered, and within each quartet, the parts are distributed in orchestral fashion (1-3-2-4).
The works starts out with a chorale, and quartets 1 and 3 imitating each other in decreasing distance. Quartet 2 plays a minor triad (with added octave) fanfare to signal the end of the other quartet’s phrases, after which there is a 3/4 bar of rests. Quartet 2 then takes the lead, with the other quartets joining, again canon-like, however this time with different notes.
Quartet 1 signals the beginning of a new section by playing the fanfare quartet 2 introduced previously, and what follows is a section of accented entries, reminiscent of three church bells trying to compete. Quartet 2 closes the piece in the same fashion it started it, with the characteristic fanfare, and a suspension-resolution in horn B3.