Classical Music for Aficionados

learsfool:

Yes, you are correct -- the Schumann notes say "horns with three rotary valves crooked in F."

BTW, we learned as musicologists that Brahms was the last major composer to specify natural horns -- and did so when most others were moving to valve instruments. Is this true? Are you familiar with any period recordings of the Brahm's symphonies that use natural instruments?

Keep buying Brahm's symphonies trying to find performances with in-tune string playing. His dramatic first violin leaps upwards never seem quite accurate and/or comfortable. The best I have found so far is the Zweden recording with the Netherlands Philharmonic. But Zweden is very cautious with tempi and the gestures never are molded the way Solti and others do so effectively. Let me know if you have any candidates.

Let's move on. I suggest a competition.

Who can identify the most beautiful horn solo in the orchestral repertoire? We can all suggest our favorites and learsfool will judge the winner.

Am suggesting this because I just got a new recording of the Tchaikovsky symphonies and was reminded of the horn solo in the 5th symphony, beginning of the 2nd movement. My bid for the most beautiful -- not the longest or hardest, but most beautiful. Doesn't hurt that the rest of this movement is spectacular with one of the great string crescendos of all time and the unexpected sfz brass attack toward the end that thrills.

So you pundits can outdo me with ease. What's your favorite for the most beautiful horn solo? Got to be a solo, Got to be an orchestral passage.