Backwards Horns and The Historic Brass Society Journal

As mentioned in a previous post, at the IHS Denver event I had the opportunity to meet Richard Martz, a horn collector. While I was visiting his collection (check it out online if you missed it) I was slightly embarrassed that he mentioned and then showed me a copy of an article that he had published in the Historic Brass Society Journal, volume 15 (2003). While I knew I had a complete set of these his article “Reversed Chirality in Horns, or is Left Right? The Horn, on the Other Hand” and the issue did not ring a bell for me at all. And I was mentioned in it!

With my return to Arizona I got back to my office on Monday and pulled the journal in question. It looked very crisp and unused! It must have came in a hectic period at ASU and not been read. Reading it these past few days has been a joy. His article is on “backwards” horns–that is French horns made to be played with either the left hand in the bell or to be fingered with the right hand (for many instruments both). This practice is seen in all periods of horn construction from earliest times to the present.

As to other content, there is a very interesting extended article on brass instruments with the first two valves reversed, with the short valve as the first valve (not uncommon early on), a great article by Edward Tarr on Russian silver trumpets, an article on something I was not aware of—“Shout bands” in the southeastern United States, and much more including a strong debunking that an instrument that the Smithsonian purchased for $108,000 could not possibly have been Louis Armstrong’s first cornet.

All told there is a lot in every issue of the Historic Brass Society Journal. Check out the society and join if you have an interest in brass instrument history. Back issues are available as well.