The horn is a brass aerophone (made of brass) with a mouthpiece, whose complex morphology distinguishes it from other wind families. It is characterized by a very long tube (often exceeding three meters, in the double horn in F/B-flat), with a predominantly conical bore, which coils upon itself in a circular shape, ending in a considerably wide bell projected backwards. The sound results from the vibration of the instrumentalist's lips against a small funnel-shaped mouthpiece.
Acoustically, the conical bore of the tube and the deep mouthpiece favor the production of harmonics, resulting in a timbre that is simultaneously dark, enveloping, and capable of great sonic heroism. The traditional technique involves inserting the right hand into the bell (the bouché or stopped horn technique), which allows for slight pitch correction or drastic alteration of the timbre.
Historically, the modern horn descends from the hunting horn (cor de chasse). During the Classical period (as attested by Mozart's concertos), the "natural horn" was played, without valves, altering the notes by adding different lengths of extra tubing (crooks) and the position of the hand in the bell. The invention of the valve in the early 19th century revolutionized the instrument, allowing it full chromaticism and solidifying its central position in the symphony orchestra.
Teachers
Courses with this instrument
Rui Rúbio
French Horn, Ensemble Class
Rui Miguel Rico Marques e Rúbio is a native of Barrancos, in the district of Beja. He began his musical studies at the school of the Banda Filarmónica Fim de Século de Barrancos in the horn class. In 2000, he enrolled in the Basic Course at the Escola Profissional de Música de Évora, with Carlos Rosado and Jorge Barradas as his teachers. He continued his musical studies at the Conservatório Regional de Évora and the Conservatório do Baixo Alentejo, in the class of Professor Jorge Barradas. In 2014, he enrolled at the University of Évora, where he completed his Bachelor's degree in Horn Performance, under the guidance of Professor Luís Vieira. In 2023, he completed his Master's degree in Music Education – Horn, in the class of Professor Ângelo Caleira, at the University of Évora.
He is a founding member and horn player of the Alentejo Brass Quintet and as a guest musician he performed with the Orquestra Clássica do Sul, Orquestra Clássica do Algarve, Orquestra de Sopros da Universidade de Évora, Orquestra Clássica da Universidade de Évora, Orquestra de Sopros do Conservatório Regional de Évora and Orquestra de Sopros do Conservatório do Baixo Alentejo.
Throughout their career, they attended several masterclasses with the professors: Abel Pereira, Laurent Rossi, Jonathan Luxton, Hélder Vales, Nuno Vaz, Guillermo Gallindo Luís Duarte Moreira, Rodrigo Carreira, Luís Sousa, Anna Ferriol and Ricardo Matosinhos.