September 18, 2007 by John Ericson

Archived under: Horn music   |   Descants & Triples, Schubert Octet

Playing the Schubert Octet


Horn ensemble fans when they think of the Schubert Octet may think of Nachtgesang im Walde, the arrangement for 8 horns of a work of Schubert for four horns and men’s chorus. I like the work a lot with a large horn ensemble, I wrote about it in a Horn Call article from an historical perspective as well, but the “real” Schubert Octet is in fact for an octet of two violins, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, bassoon, and horn.

I am performing this work on Sunday afternoon with faculty colleagues at ASU. It should be a very strong performance of a quality work. Horn players typically don’t think of this work as a biggie, however, which is a shame. It is on the whole not terribly difficult in a sense (for horn, at least) but it is long and has a lot of touchy, soft moments that take a lot of skill to pull off well. It would be easier to play if it was more of a small orchestral work but in reality it is more like an expanded string quartet.

There is one point in the work, the end of the theme and variations movement, which is pretty difficult on a standard double horn (and is also difficult on natural horn in C basso, the original instrument at that point). On a triple horn, however, there is a great fingering for the repeated low G that has to be tongued clearly into the final cadence. Play it 1-3 on the high F side. It really is much easier; give it a try if you can.

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Playing the Schubert Octet
Published on September 18, 2007 by John Ericson

Archived under: Horn music   |   Descants & Triples, Schubert Octet
John Ericson & Bruce Hembd
on the French horn, brass related topics, and the field of classical music.