Pieces - Four Improvisations - Sheet Music for Horn In F V. Buyanovsky

Four Improvisations from Travel Impressions for French Horn Solo.

Performance Notes:

Scandinavia: The opening measures serve as an introduction and should be played powerfully and with strong rhythm. The Lento is a Norwegian folk melody – sorrowful, but not too slowly and not rigid in rhythm. The Allegro in 2/4 time is a dance section and should be played with great precision.

Italy: The ff at the beginning should sound like a great church bell. The "Chorale di Palestrina" and the Andante are to be played like a monastic chant, interrupted by the great bell and at one point by the ringing of smaller bells. The Andante Cantabile in 12/8 time is played with light, singing legatos. Organ-like rubatos are aimed for. The concluding "Allegretto" section can be played with much freedom; the great church bell interrupts repeatedly and becomes increasingly distant.

España: Again, church bells at the beginning – three different bells in competition. Before the Sostenuto cadenza, a specific tempo is indicated, but this section can possibly be played somewhat faster. In the concluding "Guitar" section, the most convenient and clearest fingerings should be sought, also using the B♭ horn for clarity.

Japan: The opening theme should sound like the Japanese stringed instrument Koto. The staccato in the introduction must be observed. The next section is a Geisha melody and should not sound heavy, but rather like "porcelain." The following 4/4 section is played as before. The Allegro is brilliantly written to sound improvised, therefore the metronome must be followed. The ending is to be understood as an accelerando and then rallentando on the same note.

Russian Song: To be played in Russian style – sentimental and warm, with a round, dark tone, some vibrato (but not too fast).