Introduction
“Caprice: A kind of free music, in which the composer, without subjecting himself to any theme, gives free rein to his genius, and submits himself to the fire of composition.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau
In 1835, Jacques-François Gallay, regarded by Fétis as the ‘last great hand horn virtuoso in France’, composed Douze Grands Caprices which embody the capabilities of the instrument in its most virtuosic form. In the past few decades, as ‘Early Music’ develops, there is a renewed interest in hand horn playing, with an increasing number of horn players now pursuing historical horns as a specialisation. A new generation of players have also emerged who are capable of pushing beyond the boundaries and perceived capabilities encapsulated by Gallay in his Douze Grands Caprices.
This project aims to create an extension of the hand horn playing tradition, reflecting the capabilities and aesthetics of our time: a set of 12 new works for solo hand horn are being commissioned from 12 diverse composers.
The new works will be composed with the cor d’orchestre (orchestral hand horn) in mind, rather than the cor solo (inventionshorn) that was commonly used by virtuosi in the nineteenth century. The cor d’orchestre is undoubtably the most commonly used instrument today by most hand horn players, in particular students and professionals. Therefore, I feel it is the most sensible instrument to use that truly reflects hand horn playing of our present time.
The project is supported using public funding by Arts Council England as well as The Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust.
Commissions
Michael Finnissy
Six caprices (2021-2022) - Premiere: 20th June 2022, The Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham, UK, at the 12th Biennial International Conference on Music Since 1900
Dai Fujikura
ele (2021) - Premiere: 4th November 2021, Angela Burgess recital hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK
Rockey Sun Ketíng
Chuān II (2022) - Premiere: 8th April 2022, Susie Sainsbury Theatre. Royal Academy of Music, London, UK, at the European Platform for Artistic Research in music 2022
Robin Haigh
DOCK LEAF (2022) - Premiere: 8th July 2023, casa menotti, spoleto, Italy, AT THE 10TH EDITION OF MUSICA DA CASA MENOTTI, AS PART OF THE 66TH SPOLETO FESTIVAL DEI DUE MONDi
Grace-Evangeline Mason
In the garden of a museum (2022) - Premiere: 27th April 2022, St Mary le strand Church, London, UK
Amanda Cole
Fabric of the Universe (2024) - Premiere: 20th October 2024, City Lit - Recital Room, London, UK, as part of Bloomsbury Festival
Lloyd Coleman
Sgraffito (2023) - Premiere: 27th September 2023, Angela Burgess recital hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, UK
Scott Wollschleger
You are perfect just as you are (2023) - Online Premiere: 2nd February 2024
Timo Andres
Loud ciphers (2022) - Online Premiere: 1st August 2022
James B. Wilson
Chroma-Maxima (2024) - Premiere: 25th September 2024, Pförtnerhaus, Stella Vorarlberg Private University College for Music, Feldkirch, Austria
Electra Perivolaris
The Mastic Orchard (2023) - Premiere: 8th July 2023, casa menotti, spoleto, Italy, AT THE 10TH EDITION OF MUSICA DA CASA MENOTTI, AS PART OF THE 66TH SPOLETO FESTIVAL DEI DUE MONDi
Georgia Scott
The Ghost in the machine (2024) - Premiere: 23rd March 2024,Trio Lorenz Hall, Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia, at the European Platform for Artistic Research in music 2024
