Who is this James Chambers you Speak Of?

A few years ago I posted an article on the topic of “Who is this Philip Farkas you Speak of?” Along similar lines, perhaps it shows my age, but rather often it seems I have conversations with hornists who are really unaware of the great American hornist James Chambers (1920-1989).

Chambers published a series of excerpt books (International) among other publications but where his name comes up the most often in actual conversation is when I am talking with people about C series mouthpieces. Giardinelli made the classic version, but other makers carry on the tradition. The “C” stood for James Chambers. As we learn in his bio in the IHS website, which is also the source of the photo linked in this article,

Chambers played with the Pittsburg Symphony under Fritz Reiner for one year after his graduation [from Curtis] in 1941, then became solo horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1942-1946), and finally was solo horn of the New York Philharmonic (1946-1969). After retiring from horn playing because of his health, Chambers continued to be orchestra manager (1969-1986).

He was also on the faculty of Julliard for 42 years, so his influence on generations of hornists was very substantial.

There is a great interview with Chambers by Jeff Silberschlag from 1982 posted on the Osmun.com website, where he recalls his studies with Anton Horner and many details of his career. Chambers is associated in terms of equipment with the C series mouthpiece and the Conn 8D but with a three year period where he played a Reynolds horn. Initially at Curtis as a student he had no horn of his own but as soon as he could work out the financial end of it

…the local music store dealer ordered a Conn 8D for me. It is one of the first run of 8D, you seldom see one with an earlier serial number. I took that horn into a lesson with Horner and he played it for about five minutes and then said, “It is about time they started making a fine horn in this country.” So that horn stayed with me all my playing years, except for a short period of three years while I was developing a Chambers Model Horn for Reynolds. The horn that was finally developed was a much improved horn over what I started with and I actually used it in the Orchestra. Unfortunately, that horn is no longer being produced. nor is my name associated with it. So except that one short digression, it was not only Conn 8D, but the same horn. John Cerminaro now owns that horn.

Check the links in this article for much more on this great and hugely influential American hornist.