Ode To The Horn - A Great Musical Instrument
Learn the history of the french horn, listen to excerpts of horn pieces, design your own french horn t-shirt, explore links to websites about famous horn players, what kind of horn to purchase, where to find gifts for horn players, the french horn on wiki plus tools for musicians and more.
Could YOU Play The French Horn?
It's not as easy as it looks...
- Milestones Music T-shirts and Gifts

- Horn Excerpts.org
- GREAT website that presents a well organized offering of classical music excerpts with written scores for all horn parts, plus audio recordings of each musical pieces from various performing groups.
- Virtuoso Designer

This is really a fun way to make unique shirts that say exactly what you want them to.
Design Your Own French Horn or music lovers t-shirt with Virtuoso Designer! Easy to use program lets you make your own music t-shirt in just minutes. You can even upload your own photo for a unique gift for horn musicians. Other designer horn gifts offered include magnets, license plate frames, bumper stickers, music tote bags and more.- International Horn Society
- Formed in June 1970, the International Horn Society has over 3500 members from all over the world, and offers its members The Horn Call (a music journal), scholarship opportunities for college age horn students, and many other resources.
- The American Horn Quartet
- "Established in 1982 by four Americans who perform in well known European orchestras, the American Horn Quartet enjoys an ever increasing popularity in the brass chamber music world. Its members have won numerous prizes as soloists at international competitions in Europe and North America. ...."
Learn more about this performing group on their website, including reading bios of the quartet members, etc. - Online Metronome
- Here's an online metronome you can use when you need to get the tempo into your head. Great for students.
- Mad Conductor Music Shirts And Gifts

If you're looking for fun french horn t-shirts and gifts, this online shop has a boatload! Funny french horn slogans on mens horn t-shirts, french horn hoodies, black horn tees, women's french horn t-shirts, kids french horn tees, music calendars, horn music buttons, pretty horn throw pillows and other music gifts.- Mad Conductor On Zazzle
- For some really unique french horn apparel, visit our Mad Conductor Zazzle Gallery, where you'll find french horn music ties, sustainable EDUN t-shirts and lots of color choices in french horn clothing for men and women.
- French Horn Trivia Quiz
- This is a very fun French Horn trivia quiz. Test your knowledge on everything from past and present horn players to famous horn pieces, who wrote them and why!
Fun French Horn T-shirts and Gifts
Because horn is the only instrument that matters!
Find great looking horn designs on a variety of t-shirts for guys and gals plus gifts for horn players at CAFEPRESS FRENCH HORN MUSIC TEES AND GIFTS.
READ ABOUT FAMOUS HORN PLAYERS AND PIECES
...learn more about the best of the best horn music and musicians
- Barry Tuckwell on Wiki
- Read Wiki's article about famous Australian born horn player, Barry Tuckwell.
- Mozart Horn Concertos
- by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are a major part of most professional horn players' repertoire. The concertos were written for his friend, the horn virutoso Joseph Ignaz Leitgeb (also spelled as "Leutgeb"), whom he had known since they were both members of the court orchestra in Salzburg. Leitgeb was clearly a skilled player, as the works are very difficult to perform on the natural horn of the period, requiring lip trills, much hand-stopping, and rapid tonguing.
1 No. 1 in D major, K. 412
2 No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417
3 No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447
4 No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495
The manuscript (for No. 4) was written with multicolored inks, perhaps in a jocular attempt to rattle the intended performer (Leitgeb). The Rondo from this concerto is perhaps the most famous movement from all four horn concertos: Flanders and Swann used this movement for the tune of their song "Ill Wind".
Musicologists believe that Mozart conceived other horn concertos in addition to the four outlined above, based on manuscripts including an uncompleted first movement from a concerto in E-flat major (K. 370b) (with which the Rondo, K. 371 was probably paired), and a fragment of the first movement of a concerto in E major (K. 494a) - List of Horn Players
- Here's a link to the list of horn players appearing on Wikipedia, some with bios and others who need more information added about them. If you know more and want to share it, just log in to Wiki and add what you know.
Where Do You Play Your Horn?
For those of you who are horn musicians, take the survey below to let others know where you currently play your french horn!
Cool Gear For Horn Players
Horn cases, instruction books, gifts
Gator GL Lightweight French Horn Case
Amazon Price: $99.99 (as of 10/13/2008)
Hercules Stands DS550B French Horn Stand
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 10/13/2008)
Sixty Selected Studies for French Horn, Book II
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 10/13/2008)
Art of French Horn Playing (Art of)
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 10/13/2008)
Collected Thoughts on Teaching and Learning, Creativity and Horn Performance
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 10/13/2008)
HORN HISTORY from Wiki
Want to know more about the origin of the french horn? Learn about it at Wikipedia...
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. It is descended from the natural horn and is informally known as the French horn.
Most horns have finger-operated rotary valves; some horns like the Vienna horn use piston valves. A horn without valves is known as a natural horn.
Three rotary valves control the flow of air in the single horn, which is tuned to F or less commonly B-flat. The more common double horn has a fourth valve, usually operated by the thumb, which routes the air to one set of tubing tuned to F or the second set of tubing tuned to B-flat. Triple horns with five valves are also made, tuned in F, B-flat, and a descant F (one octave above the lower F).
A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player (or, less frequently, a hornist). The International Horn Society has recommended since 1971 that the instrument itself be properly referred to solely as the horn.
Horn CD's and more
Find Great Horn CD's by Classic Players and Groups
4 x 4
Amazon Price: $23.98 (as of 10/13/2008)
The London Horn Sound
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 10/13/2008)
American Horn Quartet
Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)
Virtuoso Horn
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/13/2008)
Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 10/13/2008)
Tips For Tuning Your French Horn
from< a href="http://www.frhorn.com">French Horn Resource Page
Transposition Tips
"The ability to transpose is absolutely necessary for the horn player. It is very often that you see a horn student terrified by transposition. Here is a fast and easy way to learn transposition.
Horn in Eb
In this transposition, think of the note below the written note. 2 flats should be added to the key signature, if the key signature is in sharps, you take away 2 sharps.
Horn in E
In this transposition, just think a halfstep down.
Horn in D
In this transpostion, just add 3 sharps to the key signature and think a third down ( ie. the note in the space below a spaced note, the note on the line below a line note )
Horn in G
In this transposition, think of the note above the written note, then add one more sharp or remove one flat to the key signature.
Horn in A
In this transposition, think a third up and add 4 sharps to the key signature.
Horn in Ab ........"
Cool Gifts For Horn Players
French Horn - The Only Instrument That Matters

Horn players are a loyal lot and love to show off their musical instruments. Shop for fun french horn t-shirts from these shops at CafePress. We've picked some of our favorite horn designs for you to enjoy.

Fun Horn Photos from flickr
Just for fun, some great french horn photos from flickr.
Horn Apparel For Rehearsals and Gigs
Strut your stuff in these cool french horn designs.
First Chair French Horn Green T-Shirt
First Chair Horn Player design is great for section leaders.
Price: 17.99
New Text / Write module
Please Bookmark My French Horn Site
Share your passion for the horn with friends by sending them a link.
Vote For Your Favorite French Horn Player
Whose playing really floats your boat?
Do you have a favorite horn player from the past or present? Vote for them here. If you don't see their name just add it to the list.
French Horn Still Life Photos
Beautiful Horn Photos.
These lovely french horn photographs celebrate the artistry of my favorite instrument.
Is The French Horn The Toughest Instrument To Play?
It's All A Matter Of Opinion...
Share your opinion about what musical instrument is harder to play.
How To String A French Horn Valve
Great instructional video on stringing a valve.
Welcome Horn Lovers
Please leave a note to let others know why the french horn is your passion too.
If you're here visiting, I'll assume you are passionate about the french horn. Feel free to leave a message and let others know why! Are you a horn player or someone who loves to listen? Four of my children play the french horn (yes, we could start a horn quartet one of these days.) It has always been my favorite instrument. What about you?
I play the Horn regularly. It has the best sound (once mastered), looks the best and everything else the best too. I like your site.
Posted September 02, 2008
| flutestar123
Nice lens, very appealing to the eye. Good variety of content. Posted August 31, 2008 |
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musicchickmusic
Such an interesting lens. Anyone who is thinking of playing a French Horn should visit your page. I played for years but no longer. Nothing like a great passage that features French Horns. Posted August 24, 2008 |
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kiwisoutback
Saw you on the CP forum, excellent lens. The CP designs here are very cool. Posted February 26, 2008 |
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tdove
I used to play the sax. Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory! Posted February 19, 2008 |
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