Composing for French Horns

[Amythe]

I've read in many places the when you write parts for the French Horn in an orchestra, you don't give it a key, but instead write the accidentals next to the notes, as it's easier for them to transpose if needed (Much like french hornists do a lot of the time). Is this true?

[Thorolf]

It all depends on the type of music. For music straying all over the harmonic map, this should be a rule of thumb for all instruments, and indeed John Williams Star Wars Main Theme has no key accidentials on any staff

But it’s true that this is given as advice. It will seldom make the big difference in real life, tho. The pros are used to traditional keying, as well as non-keyed sheets, and the amateurs generally play in keys from the beginning…



Regards

[Stenir]

I think the main reason no key signature was used was because of the crook system. Early horns were pitched in various pitches (F, E, Eb, Bb, C, etc.), and before the use of the valve system (which took forever to implement due to the older generations refusing to believe the valve horn could actually be used in place of the crook horn), crooks were used. Crooks were basically interchangeable tubing of different lengths that changed the pitch of the instrument. It would be like taking the trombone slide off the instrument and placing one twice the length on. It would drastically change the pitch of the instrument.

(Note: The crook system was invented due to the fact that the only notes available on the early horn were the harmonic series of the pitch of the instrument. That's why you tend to see notes like C, E, G, etc. repeatedly and nothing much more in such scores as Mozart, etc.)

Now, think about this. Say you start with a horn in Bb. At some point, you have it change to an Eb, and then to a C, followed by an E. Also, you start in Bb concert. So, your key signatures would be changed every time you change crooks:

Concert: Bb
Crook: Bb
Key: C

Concert: Bb
Crook: Eb
Key: G

Concert: Bb
Crook: C
Key: Bb

Concert: Bb
Crook: E
Key: F# or Gb

See how much of a mess that makes? Easier to just leave it without a key signature and place accidentals throughout.

Also, another probably contributing factor was that earlier orchestra had horns sitting with the higher pitched crooks on the outside and the lower pitched crooks on the inside. However, this would mean that the first and third horns would be the higher pitched, and the second and fourth, the lower. The first and third parts have invariably, over time, become similar or even the same. This is still seen in the modern scores of many composers (even my own), even though the parts may be grouped 1/2 3/4 instead of the 1/3 2/4 the earlier orchestra scores actually utilized.

I guess it's just easier to read 1/2 3/4 than 1/3 2/4.

[Boneman]

and who said writing music was easy!!!

[Stenir]

Nobody. It's just one of those things that has evolved over time. After all, we no longer utilize the crook horn, so we don't have to worry about dealing with any of the changing keys. It's perfectly fine now to include key signatures for Horns, since they are commonly either Bb or F horns.

[reith]

Write your horn parts "in F", that is, transposed a 5th above concert pitch. If your piece is in a key, the key of the horn part will be a 5th above the concert pitch key.

So if the concert pitch key is A major, you write your horn parts in E major, a 5th up. If the main key signature changes you change the horn parts relatively.

If the work is without key or written in quasi-C major, like atonal pieces are written without a key signature (I.e the equivalent of C major) write the horn parts without a key signature but a 5th higher than concent pitch. if you use notation software, it should do the transposition for you!

You will find scores where horn parts in the bass clef are written a 4th below concert pitch (that is, a 5th above an octave lower), but that's an old convention and you can fairly assume that if you write a 5th above, even when using the bass clef, the player will sort out what's meant. If in doubt, put an asterisk and a footnote explaining what you want.

Some modern horns are equipped with a high Bb valve. Don't concern yourself with this, it's the province of the player who will simply use this valve to play higher notes with more assurance.

Hope that helps

Reith.

[Stenir]

How true. Notation programs do automatically create key signatures for horns. Honestly, I would prefer to compose entire pieces in no-key, but that would drive performers crazy. Plus, not many notation programs have that option, so it's become natural for me to write without it.

When I originally tried composing a symphony, it was in Eb major (which would be Bb for Horns). However, I left the key signature out, and was going to continue doing it that way. It's all how you have been taught.

Truthfully, you could write any and all parts with or without a key signature. It's really up to you. However, Horn parts are usually with a key signature now, unless you really want to try to make it look like something from the 1700s.

In which case, do the same for the Trumpets, because they also did not have a key signature. Same system of crooks before valves as the Horns, so same concept.

[MaestroX]

From my score reading and my teaching I have always thought that before the 19th century horns where written without key signatures yet nowerdays is common practice to use a key signature.

So this is not always so?

[reith]

Originally Posted by MaestroX

From my score reading and my teaching I have always thought that before the 19th century horns where written without key signatures yet nowerdays is common practice to use a key signature.

So this is not always so?

Interesting. I write horn parts with a key signature if appropriate but I'm looking through several scores with the following opening keys:
Delius' "Paris" (D major)
Ravel "Dapnis and Chloe" (A maj)
Vaughan Williams Symphony 6 (E min)

and the horn parts have no key signature.

??? Have I been wrong all this time?

Reith

[Stenir]

No. You can write either way. Even though it's common practice to include key signatures for Horns now, just remember that all key signatures are is a way to make it easier than having accidentals all over the place (in relation to tonic, as well). It's a matter of preference. I can't wait for the score that is in Bb major but has no key signature....

except Horns.