The French horn was first played in 1650 in France. It consists of about 12 feet of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. It is the second highest sounding instrument group in the brass family. The conical bore (as opposed to the cylindrical bore of the trumpet or trombone), is largely responsible for its characteristic, distinctive and most beautiful mellow tone.
Three hundred and more years later, at the start of junior high school, my music teacher handed me a large black awkward shaped suitcase and declared “this one’s for you”. I cradled the instrument in my arms, put my lips to the mouthpiece and attempted to make music.
Thirty years or more later, Resa handed me a folio of music, a large black awkward shaped suitcase and declared “it’s like riding a bicycle...the music is in you!” And indeed it is.
“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” B Auerbach
