Loud and Free

I am currently tackling the Matterhorn of horn matters- the Ligeti Horn Trio.
Or more accurately, it's tackling me.

The 90s Nickelodeon equivalent of the Matterhorn.

Written in 1982, this piece just busts through the inside-voice notion of the horn in a chamber ensemble.  It is raucous and rhythmically thumping; that is, when it's not austere and whispered.  I have wanted to learn this piece for a long time so it's a real thrill now that I have a couple performances in the books.  For 9 months from now, cuz that's how long it's gonna take for me to birth this Transylvanian baby.  (Gyorgy Ligeti is Translyvanian; I'm not birthing Dracula...)

The coolest thing about the Ligeti Horn Trio is its use of natural harmonics in the horn part.  While many of the melodies are tonal, many many more don't use the valves and instead require that the horn player slide around on natural partials, using just our air, our lips, and our fearless wits.  Thus for the past week or so, I have lived au naturale- ripping these gnarly arpeggios that are so close to being "in tune" yet so far.  The thing is, though, they ARE in tune.  As in tune as you can get, according to physics.  How most modern classical instrumentalists tune (somewhat equal tempered, to match the stalwart black and white piano) is really a long series of compromises so we can all play together in civilized musical society.  The horn, though, is not quite so evolved a creature- the equivalent of a flatworm.  

But such jewel tones!

So we have had to bend up, down, and around to avoid these non "perfect" notes on our harmonic series.

Normally I only pass through to the normal notes (i.e. C, E, G, C) in my practice.  But not this week.  This week I've been stopping at every 9th, 11th, and 13th partial and savoring its strident, rustic flavor.   It's certainly difficult to aim at these notes because they're unfamiliar, but I feel something loosening in my ear and in my heart when I just
let
the horn
go.
I'm allowing the horn to live in its native habitat, to eat the nuts, fruits, and berries it seems to crave.
Without getting too heavy-handed with the anthropomorphized metaphors, I am convinced that this piece will not only be good for my horn playing but for my psyche.  As my best friend always tells me, "Just leave yourself alone."  So I am.  I'm leaving my (horn)self alone.  We'll see what comes of it.

Apparently a "Frozen" gif.