- - Please visit: Legacy Horn Experience - -
A question came in earlier this year asking generally what are the top 3 horn concertos. With the end of the semester for my rep class right on us, it is a good time to finally answer.
Unfortunately, the question is too open to really answer. Top 3 for undergrad auditions? Graduate auditions? Senior recitals? That I might relax and listen to? Most popular with the public?
My personal list
I’m afraid that my personal list is very skewed. Concertos that I might play or listen to for enjoyment are mostly by Haydn or Rosetti, in part because I don’t teach them that often. They are rarely performed in auditions and on recitals – and, unfortunately, are not particularly popular among horn players.
Some top three lists
But for sure there are some popular concertos out there.
For undergrad auditions I’d say these, but with the note that I don’t hear the Franz Strauss very often – but I still think it a good choice, and it might help you stand out from the more typical audition.
Mozart 3 (or 1 or 2)
Franz Strauss Op. 8
Strauss 1
Grad auditions have to my mind three rather good choices:
Gliere
Mozart 4
Strauss 2
All would be perceived to be harder than the undergrad list, and all can show off a lot to the horn teacher. Strauss 2 being the best choice overall, if the technique is under your fingers. Mozart 4, if you bring it for a grad audition, be sure to have a cadenza!
Professional auditions also have a narrow list of concertos to consider.
Mozart 2 or 4
Strauss 1
Strauss 1 may or may not be allowed. Between Mozart 2 and 4, I like both of them equally well for auditions.
Finally, we get to the topic of concertos that are popular generally, and basically all of the concertos mentioned above fall into that list.
The future?
There have been a number of concertos written in recent years. Some, certainly, must be quite good pieces. It will be interesting to watch and see which ones can break through and be performed often by say the middle of this century.
