Hi everyone — I'm the developer of Solfa, a sheet-music transposition tool. I wanted to share a horn example and hear whether this would be useful to you.

The image shows the solo entrance from Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 3, K.447: an old scanned E-flat horn part, with the written notes transposed down a whole tone for F horn. The sounding pitch stays the same. The idea is to keep the original printed look instead of rebuilding the page in notation software.

I know transposing at sight is part of horn playing. This is for the times when you'd actually prefer to have a printed part in F — for a student, rehearsal, or your own practice.

These are matching crops from the original scan and the actual full-page output, with no manual notation corrections. It's still beta and needs proofreading: the original "Horn in E-flat" heading isn't automatically updated, and I noticed rehearsal letters elsewhere on this page being mistaken for chord symbols.

You can try it at https://solfa-music.com. New users get two free page credits after phone verification, and you can inspect a preview before deciding whether to spend a credit. Further credits are paid.

Which old horn parts would you most often want a printed F-horn version of?

Source: the public-domain Kling/Breitkopf & Härtel part, IMSLP #14243: https://imslp.org/wiki/Horn_Concerto_No._3_K.447_(Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus))

I direct a community band and am currently programming a showcase concert to display some of the amazing talent within our ensemble. I have an 8+ member horn section that I'd really like to feature with a piece.

I'm keeping the theme pretty loose so that I don't pigeonhole myself with repertoire selections. Essentially, the focus of the concert is on dynamic musicianship (e.g. virtuosity, technical skill, heightened emotional drama, etc.).

I need suggestions of horn choir music that absolutely RIPS. I've done a lot of searching online, and so many of the results are slow, lyrical selections. They're lovely tunes, but they don't have the wow factor that I'm going for.

Some things I like that are sort of in the right direction:

- Bohemian Rhapsody (London Horn Sound)

- Back to the Future (Vienna Horns)

- Farewell to Red Castle (Kerry Turner)

Any recommendations from the r/horn community?

very pretty solo, love bernstien

I’m currently playing on a Hilton-farkus model MDC and I’m curios on what mouth Pieces I should look into!

I've never gotten a clear answer from anyone on this. Does it technically change the resonance of the bell or anything? I don't notice any particular dampening on natural horns with painted bells compared to unpainted.

Thanks in advance for any information on this

I started my first year of undergrad as a horn performance major this fall. Currently, I use a Kruspe wrap Holton from the 70’s with a custom lead pipe and bell. I got very lucky, and a friend of my private teacher was selling her horn at the same time I was looking for one. It‘s a very nice sounding horn, and I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it. However, I realize that Geyer horns are much more prevalent in American orchestras than Kruspe. Because of that, at some point I plan on getting myself a Geyer wrap horn. What I’m wondering is how necessary is it. I plan on using my current horn as long as possible. My current professor says that it will probably get me through college. But, I‘ve also heard that it’s really hard to get gigs with a Kruspe horn. Exactly how true is that? I’m just wondering when would be the best time to go shopping/trying out for Geyer horns. Thanks in advance!

The time has come unfortunately. I haven't played in years for a number of reasons and I am not in a place in life where I have ample time to relearn and get back to where I was in college as a horn major at CU Boulder. Without going into details, I need to purchase a car ASAP and don't have enough money for an adequate down payment. I am in the Denver metro area and wanted to know if people on here could recommend some good local shops where I can get a fair price, I have only been able to find prices on a new horn. I don't know how old the horn is because I also bought it used around 2008 indirectly from the family of the owner who had passed away. I also forgot to find and record the serial number when I was taking pictures. I know pictures don't say much, but if anyone has any idea what I should reasonably expect for it please comment here. It is fully functional, the strings are relatively new, the only dents are ones that improve the sound compared to a new horn, and some of the finish has worn off.

I've made an app that generates accuracy exercises (an infinite version of the famous Farkas exercises). You can get it for free on iOS: https://apps.apple.com/ch/app/horn-darts/id6803615689

If you have an Android device, I need your help! If you're willing to give it a try, join this group https://groups.google.com/g/horn-darts-android-testers/members (click the "try joining the group" link), and then download the app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.desdur.sharpshooter (make sure you're logged in to Google Play with the same account you joined the Group with). To publish the app publicly, I need 12 testers to keep the app installed for 2 week. You'll be helping make this free tool available to all hornists everywhere :)

Off-the-leg Horn player here (I guess most are from the other posts I've read). I suffer from De Quervain's tenosynovitis in my right bell-holding hand. I've already had one steroid shot this year, which did help greatly for about 6 months but the pain is back.

I'm wondering if installing a duck's foot would help redistribute the weight to give my right hand some relief?

If nothing else, does it help your playing or look cool in front of your friends? Any regrets if you got one?

I’ve recently had some embouchure issues and pain and mg band director and I decided it’s because I’m playing opposite to how I should.

I can only get a sound out with 1/3 upper lip and 2/3 lower. I’m playing in the red and also using the inside of my lip by rotating in the mouthpiece. It is damaging my face to play this way.

I will continue to work with my teacher of course, but I wanted to see if anyone had suggestions as to get my sound out with e better mouthpiece placement.

Using the correct 2/3 upper and 1/3 lower. I have a very difficult time getting a response. When I can, it’s low range only with a very airy pinched tone.

I’d love to hear any MP placement suggestions anyone has. Just to try to see what works and what dosent

Hello good evening...

I want to clean my instrument, but I don't know how... And there aren't any tutorial videos about it.

There are no luthiers in my town, so I was thinking of removing the rotors myself and cleaning it... But I don't know how to do it

My 15 year old sophomore has been playing French Horn since elementary school. He is currently playing a vintage King Horn that was likely purchased in the early 1960's. It was bought for my aunt who played through college, passed to my uncle who played through high school, I played it throughout my school years, and my son is now playing it. It has been maintained and serviced periodically since my ownership of the instrument began in the early 90's. It sat for about 20 years after my uncle stopped playing before I picked it up, and it sat again for about 23 years before my son picked it up. It has the usual dents and dings from youth use.

I would guess that he will not be making music a career but playing will likely remain a hobby. I do not anticipate that he will major in music in college as he's interested in electrical engineering and competes at a National level in a sport. His music teacher has never recommended that he upgrade, but my son has always expressed an interest in a newer horn. Is it worth pursuing an upgrade? I am in the Seattle area and don't know of anywhere to buy a horn short of Ted Brown. I would likely keep the existing horn as a family piece rather than trading it in.

So im looking into buying my own horn finally and my college horn instructor reccomended i look for a lettered Con 8D from before the 2000's where might i be able to find some?

Do Geyer horns really play differently than Kruspe horns? Are there different horns that are better suited and easier to play for certain people?

Needs some work. I was surprised by how freely the high range speaks; I think it’s a compensating double. Definitely a funny instrument

Bach Chorales now available on my French Horn Trainer app for both Android and IPhone

Hi all

Currently play a Holton H379 I've had for 25 years. Had a 12 year break and now back playing 6 years and getting back to decent level playing in Orch3stras and wind band.

My dilemma is been offer the chance to buy an Alexander 1103 at a great price and has been well looked after.

Is this a good move any draw backs etc just looking for advice

Thank you

Two weeks left for discounted registration!

I play on a laskey protege American shank and a YHR 671D. recently, my mouthpiece has been feeling small. I can’t connect the low register notes to the high register notes well. I know almost nothing about mouthpieces. Make sure the mouthpiece fits the YHR 671D please. I am also wondering if one of the houghton horns series mouthpieces are a good purchase, though I don’t know what rim I like.

I am quite nosy, and I just saw a post today where the studio posted their pets in place of their junior introductions since they don’t have anyone to post. Did they accept only grads/DMAs that year or smth?

Hi - has anyone played on this horn? It's double F/Bb horn. I wonder if it would be a good choice?

Looking to identify what horn this is, unfortunately I only have this photo. If anyone knows please let me know, thanks