A closer look at a vintage “Kruspe Kruspe”
A Kruspe Kruspe? Any serious student of the horn today has heard of Kruspe style (or Kruspe wrap) horns, but many do not realize that Kruspe refers to an actual maker of horns (in Germany), and that...
View ArticleRevisiting the Ascending Third Valve
As part of my most recent horn building project I realized that I could set up that horn as an ascending third valve instrument. Ascending third valve?!? Back nearly 10 years ago I posted in this site...
View ArticleSpun Bell? Hand-Hammered Bell?
I have mentioned hand-hammered bells a number of times in this site, but surprisingly I have never really explained what the term means. All Bells are Spun A first point to make is that all bells are...
View ArticleCould the Kruspe style horn come back?
At one time Kruspe style double horns (especially the Conn 8D) were a dominant horn type among professional hornists in the USA. That market has dramatically shifted in recent years to Geyer style...
View ArticleOn Vienna horns and the important topic of wires
Something you might have noticed is that in Horn Matters (and elsewhere) I have rarely written about the Vienna horn. A perennially popular topic in our horn world, I have instead focused my own single...
View ArticleKruspe Dreaming, part I: A Concert on a Kruspe
In several posts I have talked about how just before the pandemic I was able to obtain a low milage 1948 Kruspe horn. This is not just a Kruspe-style horn, it is an actual Kruspe made by the firm that...
View ArticleKruspe Dreaming II: The Tuckwell Kruspe
Years ago, I remember one of my teachers saying that Tuckwell sounded better on his Kruspe. By the time I heard him play live he was on his modified Holton 180, which was I believe the main horn you...
View ArticleKruspe Dreaming, III: A Very Big (and Early) Kruspe
In this series I’ve focused on my ca. 1948 Kruspe, but I have also been able to spend some time with another, older Kruspe Horner model. This example is from I would guess around WWI. One of the most...
View ArticleGeyer Dreaming IV: The Custom Horn Maker, and a Closer Look at Geyer 223
One question I have heard in relation to custom horn makers is this; are they just assembling parts? What makes them better than just buying a factory horn? Horn assembler, or horn maker? Typically,...
View ArticleMusings on Oiling Rotary Valves, and Brief Review: JM Lubricants
A new lubricant line for horn players to consider is the line of products by JM Lubricants. Manufactured by J. Meinlschmidt GmbH, a company that has produced rotary valves since 1866, the line has a...
View ArticleA Word on “Brushed Finish” Horns
A type of finish that has been showing up on some of the used horn postings you see is what they call a “brushed finish.” A potential “hot button” topic that I don’t believe has been much commented...
View Article“Each instrument has a different personality,” or, different horns are in...
There is a big amorphous topic that is rarely discussed related to horns and repertoire. Over the years it has become more and more clear to me that different music feels better and worse on different...
View ArticleGeyer Update: Engravings, Serial Numbers, and More
I could also have titled this article “Things I got wrong” in the Geyer Dreaming series (which starts here), or the related article published in the February 2024 issue of The Horn Call. An Email from...
View ArticleFundamentals 7. Slurring: various intervals, various dynamics, register changes
Slurring can be a problem, even a major problem. The question you should be asking is this — is the problem you, or is it your horn? Slurring fact: The issue may be your equipment I do realize that to...
View ArticleFundamentals 16. Muted horn: tonal control, responses, projection, noiseless...
Mutes?!? It is very interesting to me that Douglas Hill included in his list of fundamentals (found in his Collected Thoughts book) a special place for muted horn. Is it hard? Did it used to be? I tend...
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