Entry #5: Horn Ensemble & Moonlight Becomes You
Horn Ensemble Takeover Since there is no class this week, I’ve decided to go on a tangent and discuss some of my favorite horn ensemble works ever written. As a horn player, arranger, and composer, horn choir is my favorite ensemble type and just a great deal of fun to play in. Portraits of the American West Performance by the CCM Horn Choir , conducted by Randy Gardner Portraits of the American West was composed by James A. Beckel Jr. and written for 12 horns and 2-3 percussionists. Here are the program notes for the piece: Portraits of the American West" was commissioned by Greg Hustis and dedicated to Mason Jones . This piece with twelve horns and 2 percussion was meant to capture scenes from the early American West. The first movement, ‘Santa Fe Trail – 1826’ pictures a wagon train about to embark on a westward journey over the Santa Fe Trail in 1826. This trail was very popular at the time for pioneers, but extremely dangerous. The opening chorale is meant...
