french horn Aerophone | Wind | Brass The horn has descended from ancient history when animal horns were first used as musical instruments. Their powerful sound could travel several hundred metres and warned villagers of approaching danger. All the brass instruments have evolved from this early use of the animal horn. If the modern French Horn was to be straightened it would be 6 metres long! To facilitate a more portable instrument the tubing loops several times, finishing with the widening of the bell section which points behind the player. The modern French Horn is predominantly an orchestral instrument and it is used to great effect in many film scores. Mozart composed four horn concertos which have become standard repertoire for the horn student. Listen to the French Horn Notable examples of French Horn recordings, click on > for YouTube: Classical Orchestra Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony, 2nd movement (after 45 seconds) > Brahms 1st Symphony, Finale > Don Juan, Richard Strauss > ​ Film Scores The Mask of Zorro > (composed by James Horner) Titanic > Jurassic Park > Classical Solo Mozart Horn Concerto No. 4 > (3rd movement Rondo) Richard Strauss Horn Concerto No. 3 > (3rd movement) Brass Ensemble España for 21 horns (arranged Richard Bissill) > Caravan for Horn Ensemble > (arranged Richard Bissill) Back to Brass Section

The Clarinet Wind | Woodwind | Single Reed Aerophone I moved on to the Clarinet from the Recorder. It was a new challenge, a single reed to deal with and different fingerings. Based on its predecessor the Chalumeau, the Clarinet is generally accepted to have been invented by Johann Christoph Denner in the early 1700s. ​ The Clarinet has a mellow, woody sound, very different to the recorder. Learning to play the Clarinet gave me the opportunity to play in the beginner band at school. I made new friends and had a great experience. ​ A favourite of classical composers, with many concertos to choose from. The Clarinet is also a key player in Big Band and of course Jazz. A single reed aerophone, the B♭ soprano clarinet and A soprano clarinet are the most popular. Listen to the Clarinet Notable pieces that feature the Clarinet: ​ Aaron Copland - Clarinet Concerto Carl Maria von Weber - Clarinet Concerto No. 2 Johannes Brahms - Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E flat Leonard Bernstein - Sonata for Clarinet & Piano George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue Claude Debussy - Premiere Rhapsodie Malcolm Arnold - Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano Gerald Finzi - Clarinet Concerto Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5 Francis Poulenc - Sonata for Clarinet &Piano ​ Back to Woodwind Section If you are thinking about learning to play an instrument, or you’ve decided, but aren’t sure which one, let me help you choose. We can chat, and you can have a go at different instruments, to see which one would suit you best. If you leave your email, or ask your mum and dad to, I will get back to you, or your parents, with more information.