28/07/2025
This year, for our sixth course, we had a full house of 12 students: we were therefore able to play bigger multi-horn arrangements than last year, as well as plenty of large-scale orchestral repertoire.
Once again we had a wonderful few days of music making, deep in the Welsh countryside, in the village of Llangenny.
During the first couple of days, already thinking towards producing a performance on the final day of the course, Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries (expanded from the original eight orchestral horn parts to 15 horns - all in E) was one of several arrangements that we rehearsed. We also began to explore numerous orchestral passages from the repertoire, including bits of Mahler 1, Strauss Don Quixote, Shostakovich 5 and 10, and also some Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms: by approaching repertoire through the lens of specific aspects of technique, students gained invaluable experience of the many challenges that aspiring orchestral players are faced with.
The concert on the final afternoon was enthusiastically received by both parents and local people, providing a rousing conclusion to the week's work.
Next year's course is now in the calendar, and on the website: 14th-17th July 2026. Do make a note of these dates - bookings will open soon!
French Horn Summer School
our website: www.frenchhornsummerschool.co.uk
gmail: [email protected]
