The instrument A little bit of history
About technique and how to play
The repertoire A moment for listening.
• The KAJK plays the French hunting horn as it was developed around 1817: the
“Trompe d’Orléans”.
• This natural horn is tuned in the D major key and has a 3 octave range. All
musicians play the same kind of instrument, only the mouthpiece can be different.
• The trompe is made of a brass alloy, has three and a half windings with a diameter
of 37 cm and weights only 750 gr. The total length of the tube measures about
4,54 m.
• The horn is one of the oldest known musical instruments. It has gone through
a great number of evolutions and can be found throughout all ages and all over
the world.
• The French hunting horn has always had 2 functions. It was used to give signals
during the hunt and as a pure music instrument, used in
orchestras. It has his roots in North-Italian religious and concert music of
the 16th – 17th century
• In the 17th century it had an important place at the French royal
court. More particular because Louis XIV chose this horn to be used during his
hunts. Marquis de Dampierre (“Gentilhomme des Menus Plaisirs du Roi”)
was the founder of the repertoire and the technique as we know it today. He
also determined the length of the tube and the key in which the horn is
tuned.
• The trompe and his tradition have survived thanks to the “Chasse
à Courre” or “Vénerie”, the drive or hunt with horses and pack of dogs according
to the French tradition. That is why most players and terminology are French.
• The hunting horn has no keys or valves. All tones and effects have to be produced
using lips, cheeks, tongue and air pressure. Although some tones are created
by stopping the sound with the hand (“Ton Bouché”).
• Normally the trompe is played without accompaniment of other instruments.
But it goes well together with an organ, piano or orchestra and even with a
choir.
• Nice to know: While playing, the player (or “sonneur”) is always standing
up, with the bell, and so his back, to the audience. For best sound quality,
the group is placed into V-shape.
A short overview.
Fanfares
Rather short pieces, always played “forte” (at full force). This part of the
repertoire is most linked to the French hunting tradition. There are two kinds:
• “Fanfares de Circonstances et d’ Animaux” (Fanfares about hunting and animals): Which are hunt(signal) fanfares.
• “Fanfares de Personnes et de Lieux” (Fanfares about people and places): Which
are remembrance fanfares.
Fantasies
In these pieces, tutti’s, trio’s and solo’s are freely used and alternated,
as well as “fortes” and “radoucis” (gentle “andantes”). Fantasies can be shorter
or longer, some are complete “radoucis”.
St.-Hubertus masses
Complete masses or separate pieces. We have the classic masses of Sombrun, Cantin,
Tyndare, Chalmel e.a. and more recently the masses of Hubert Heinrich of Sylvain
Oudot. Sometimes pieces from different masses are mixed.
Classical music Several classical composers (Delalande, Mouret, Haydn,
Mozart ....) have written music dedicated to the horn or used its typical sound
in orchestral pieces. Pieces originally written for trumpet are also performed
with horn.
Some examples from the classical and modern hunting horn repertoire. The different
aspects of the repertoire are represented: Fanfares, small and great "fantasies",
St.-Hubert masses, classical pieces, whether or not accompagnied by organ, orchestra
or choir.
From our cd "ODE" (1999):
For more information about our cd, including the complete playlist: Click to Our
Group.
• "La Rallye Antwerpen" (H. Heinrich):
Great, modern, fantasy. especially written for our group. (2'33") [WAV]
• "Ode" (G. Jansen):
Small "fantasy". Most of it played in "radoux" (andante). Title piece of our
cd. (1'46") [WAV]
• "Introït de la Messe de St-Hubert" (Obry):
First piece of the classical St.-Hubertus mass written by Obry. (1'35") [WAV]
• "La Royale" also "Le Dix Cors". (Marquis
de Dampierre):
Hunting "fanfare". Written by the founder of the French huning horn and its
repertoire, such as we know. Played for a adult deer.
Performed by the complete group (tuti). (0'43") [WAV]
• "La Bob Demont" (G. Jansen):
Fanfare. Dedicated to Bob Demont. For years our"Maître sonneur" or conductor,
later our president. Payed by alternating trios. (1'08") [WAV]
From our concert at Leuven (2005):
• Allegro from "Suites de Symphonies de Chasse"
(J.-J. Mouret):
Classical piece. Performed on hunting horn and organ. (2'10") [WAV]
• "La Graisivaudan" (L. Magnier):
Great "fantasy". Performed on hunting horn and organ. (4'25") [WAV]
From our concert at Antwerp (2006):
• Allegro from "Suites de Symphonies de Chasse"
(J.-J. Mouret):
Classical piece. Performed on hunting horn and organ. (2'10") [WAV]
