horncups.com

PHC Horn Forum
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:23 am

All times are UTC




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Are stopping valves for wimps?
PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2016 8:12 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:23 pm
Posts: 88
Recently, in response to an advertisement on a horn dealer's Facebook page for a double horn with a stopping valve, someone asked why anybody would need a stopping valve when the horn had an F side. Perhaps the commentator was being naive, but I suspect he was suggesting that use of a stopping valve was "cheating".

It is all very well using the F side to handstop - up to a point. It is fine if you're not called upon to play anything too high or too technically demanding. A couple of examples. Mahler asks for top "A"s handstopped in the last mvt of his 1st Symphony and a top "Bb" in the first mvt of his 2nd Symphony. These would be treacherous played on the F side. Then there is the 2 bar chromatic descending semiquaver passage in the third mvt of the 2nd Symphony. Much easier if you have a stopping valve - just put your thumb down and play the notes as printed with normal Bb fingering. No thinking about transposing AND trying to recall F horn fingering at speed.

Luckily I have a choice of instruments. Even when playing a 4-valve double I will sometimes handstop on the Bb side using "trick" (i.e. flat) fingerings where needed for better intonation.

Should I be ashamed of myself for not handstopping everything on the F horn?!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are stopping valves for wimps?
PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2016 6:49 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:55 pm
Posts: 318
Location: Home Counties
"Should I be ashamed of myself for not handstopping everything on the F horn?!"

I think not.

If it works, it works. Can anyone distinguish between your stopped notes on the F and the Bb sides? Probably not. From the audience, definitely not.

And what about low stopped notes? Is it "cheating" to use a stopping mute?

Is it "cheating" for me to use the F alto side of my triple (sometimes) to play above the stave?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Are stopping valves for wimps?
PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2016 10:06 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:23 pm
Posts: 88
Thanks - that's what I was hoping to hear.

I'm glad you also raised the issue of stopping mutes. Very handy where composers inconsiderately write for handstopped horn in the low register. Sibelius was a bugger for doing that (e.g. Violin Concerto and, if I remember correctly, 2nd Symphony). Possibly the worst example is in the last mvt of Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony where 2nd and 4th Hns, having handstopped a ffC# immediately below the stave then have to do likewise an octave lower. Hats off to anybody who can play that lower note ffwithout a stopping mute - I know I can't!


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group