Eli Epstein: Orchestral Excerpts for Low Horn

Half of the horn parts in the orchestral literature are low horn parts. The sound and expression of the orchestra are enhanced and strengthened when those parts are played with beautiful tone, intonation, artistry and assuredness. Low horn parts present many technical challenges, such as: How do we make large jumps with agility, ease and accuracy? How do we play in the low and middle range with strength and projection without elevating the intonation? How do we produce smooth legato or clear staccato and evenness of sound over the horn's almost four octave range? 

In my 18 years as second horn of The Cleveland Orchestra, I performed and recorded most of the Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart and Schumann symphonies, Strauss Tone Poems, and Wagner Ring operas. During that time, I constantly tinkered and experimented with low horn issues. I came upon strong principles of playing that have worked not only for me, but also for many students in conservatories and summer festivals. 

My sincere hope is that my recordings and commentary will serve as a comprehensive resource to inspire horn players to move forward on the path toward greater ease, confidence, and mastery in low horn playing.

The Horn Call Review, October 2015:

"Eli Epstein has been busy once again...each passage is magnificently  performed by the 18-year veteran of the Cleveland Orchestra in the sublime acoustic of the New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall. Every performance provides a sonic paragon, a rubric worthy of emulation by student and professional alike. The commentary is infused with many of the principles and nomenclature long espoused by Epstein--this new recording provides an excellent supplement to his previous text [Horn Playing from the Inside Out, Third Edition]. The [listener] is engaged both by the constructive advice for each excerpt, and captivated by gems of wisdom, imagery and linguistics...With this recording, Eli Epstein renders with each excerpt a horn lesson, a music lesson, and lesson in humanity. Any horn student aspiring to be become a professional hornist or teacher, and any professional hornist or teacher open to the rejuvenation of new ideas, strategies and nomenclature should reference this valuable, insightful and inspiring work."

W. Peter Kurau, Eastman School of Music

Producer: Eli Epstein 

Grammy Award Winning Engineer and Producer Jesse Lewis

Beethoven Fidelio Overture, Op. 72, Horn 2

Beethoven Symphony No. 3, Op. 53, Movement 3, Trio, Horn 2

Beethoven Symphony No. 7, Op. 92, Movement 1, Horn 2

Beethoven Symphony No. 7, Op. 92, Movement 3, Horn 2

Beethoven Symphony No. 8, Op. 93, Movement 3, Horn 2

Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Op. 125, Movement 3, Horn 4

​Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56a, Variation 6, Horn 2

Haydn Symphony No. 31, Movement 2, Horn 2

Mahler Symphony No. 1, Movement 1, Horn 2

Mahler Symphony No. 1, Movement 3, Horn 2

Mahler Symphony No. 3, Movement 1, Horn 2

Mahler Symphony No. 9, Movement 1, Horn 2

Mozart Symphony No. 40, K. 550, Movement 3, Horn 2

Schubert Symphony No. 9, D. 944, Movement 1, Horn 2 

​Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Op. 47, Movement 1, Horn 2

Strauss Don Quixote, Op. 35, Variation VII, Horn 2

Strauss Don Quixote, Op. 35, Variation VIII, Horn 2

Strauss Ein Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, Horn 2

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, Op. 36, Movement 1, Horn 2

Wagner Das Rheingold Vorspiel, Horn 2

​Weber Der Freischutz Overture, Horn 4