Details page | Music for Horns

Structure / Movements: 4 pieces: Frippery no.1: Medium Frippery no.2: Fast Frippery no.3: Waltz Frippery no.4: Slow march

Creator's Comments: The Fripperies are short, light-hearted pieces, intended to give the horn quartet the opportunity to play in various styles. They were originally written to give students the chance to become at least somewhat acquainted with the notation employed in "big band" arrangements. The following suggestions may be of some help in setting the moods for the various members... #1 uses the uneven eighth note patterns of the "swing" ear, and for that reason, is probably the most difficult one in this volume to put together. THe eighths should be played with the feeling of lazy triplets, with a stress on the shorter second note of each pair. [Explains further with musical example] #2 must be played lightly, with even eighth notes and good accents. TO make the accents more impressive, the general volume level should be kept quite low. The entrances after A should be right on top of the beat to keep the tempo from slowing. Give the 2nd player a chance to get the fugal entrance out through the rest of the texture after C. The tune can easily get lost at that spot. Straight out in tempo. #3 is a lilting waltz. No need for any heroics on this one. #4 starts as a spooky march, cuts loose at D, marcato bombasto, and then goes out on tiptoe. Frippery #1 should have some what the same feeling as this one does from D to J. Stay on the light side throughout. Bear in mind that it is a cooperative venture. Enjoy!

Performance Notes: The one and only original volume of the Fripperies, the set that started off what has now become the best known "light" quartet music for horns on the market.

A Datebase of Music for Horn Ensembles