Horn of the Month June 2015
Recently acquired through Ebay auction by our hornist, Marian Hesse, is a fine example of a reproduction Baroque Horn.
This horn was handmade by noted hornist, Lowell Greer. Having performed as a noted horn soloist on modern and original instruments, Dr. Greer is also a distinguished maker of outstanding replica horns. From the Natural Horns of Distinction: Greer horns are models which were developed from archetypical original instruments which were the "player's choice" during their periods of original use, and have been thoroughly tested during use in some of the world's finest early music ensembles.
This Greer Baroque horn has a master crook in G, as well as couplers to achieve the keys of F, E, Eb and D. It has a red painted bell 8 inches in diameter. There is a stamp reading LG on the bell as well as a metal plate label reading “L. Greer Toledo”. In addition this horn has ‘vents’, small holes one of which is left open for nodal venting for out of tune harmonics (11 and 13). The use of nodal vents remains controversial, with most recent scholarship coming down on the side of the use of nodal vents being non-historical. This instrument can be played with, or without, using the vents.
According to Dr. Greer: I think it is a wonderful baroque horn. It plays "snappily" at A415, has the most commonly used keys. It will "duet" with a trompe easily enough, even though the sound has a bit more breadth. It accepts a reduced shank mouthpiece, but does not seem 'fussy' about the cup. There is a 'primordial' feel to playing a baroque horn. Anything, Versailles fanfares, Corrette concerto, Telemann or other baroque concerti, are a true adventure. If Bruce were to get a horn mouthpiece with his rim to play 'screech first' with you playing 'basso blotto' secundo, the whole world of historic baroque doubles would open up....just a thought.....
From Marian Hesse, horn:
Lowell Greer became acquainted with the Chestnut Brass Company at the Amherst Early Brass Festival in 1989. He kindly brought a natural horn for me to use, as I had no early instruments of my own at that time. We read and performed one of the Dauprat Sextets for natural horns in 6 different keys, a thrilling and eye opening experience, putting me on a quest to own my own natural horn. The Baroque horn will give me the challenge and opportunity to learn the instrument that lies between my hunting horn (trompe) and my natural horns, and experience what performing the music of Handel and Bach is like on a replica instrument of the era.