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My first IHS event was the symposium in 1983 in Charleston, Illinois. That was a while ago, but really in many ways it does not seem like that long ago. At the time I was an undergrad at a small college in Kansas, Emporia State University. As I think of recent horn symposiums I have attended and back on that first one I several things come to mind.
- At the Charleston symposium I heard some of the most amazing live horn playing I had ever heard to that point. In particular I remember hearing Gerd Seifert play the Adagio and Allegro and Charles Kavalovski play the Schubert Auf dem Strom beautifully.
- Other concerts I remember for the wrong reasons, like the artist who played Strauss 1 on natural horn. To this day I don’t know why that performer did that, it sounded terrible and Franz Strauss had been playing a single B-flat horn with three valves for years by the time it was composed. Even then I knew enough to think to myself hello, Strauss 1 is for valved horn!
- The mass horn choir was a lot of fun and memorable. I still remember that pretty vividly, and actually I have conducted one of the works we played then, Landsighting by Grieg, several times with large horn ensembles.
- On the other hand, I can’t remember one thing from any master class or session. I must have gone to some! But what? [See UPDATE]
- I do remember trying horns, although I only remember three specifically; a Horner model Kruspe, a double Wagner tuba, and a Vienna horn. Interesting in relation to where my performing and publications have taken me since!
- Finally, I remember aspects of socializing; the rap sessions led by Morris Seacon, the cafeteria, my suite mates in the dorm, etc.
Each host I am sure tries to make their event better than the last. If you are ever on the fence about going, do go!
UPDATE: I have finally come up with a memory of a couple master classes at the 83 symposium, I went to the Mike Hatfield class and remember someone playing the Piatoni Air de Chasse, and also I went to the Farkas class and remember him coaching a section that was (surprise!) all playing Holton horns. Whew! Was getting worried about my memory.
UPDATE II: For brief notes on all the sessions at this symposium see this article.
