Significa #10

Questions

American and European based questions.

1. "The Mark of a Professional" -The derivation of this term goes back to the late, great John Barrows. As a lecturer, John liked to keep referring to this "term" again and again. Everyone used to sit and listen to him respectfully which made him work his expression up to fever pitch. Finally, someone would meekly ask "Mr. Barrows, exactly what do you mean by 'the mark of a professional?" Since he gave this presentation all over the country for many years, this expression must still be alive in all of us that knew him, heard him speak or took lessons from someone who was highly influenced by John. During a visit with me, years ago, when I lived in West Los Angeles, John told me how much fun it is baiting his audience with this lesson and that he did it to leave a lasting impression which could instantly make one a better, more highly sought after, hornist (Yes, in my opinion, it really can!). My question to you is, specifically, what was John referring to when he used the expression "the mark of a professional?" (If nobody guesses this in a couple of days, which I doubt will happen, I have a powerful hint I will release)

2. Where is, or what part of a horn, is the name "first branch" referring to?

3. What do these three hornists (amongst many others) have in common besides their horn playing? Wilhelm Lansky-Otto, Anthony Halstead, David Duke (Well known TV-Motion Picture, Hollywood, hornist).

4. In a 1984 film documentary (The South Bank Show) on Barry Tuckwell, frequently seen over educational television, BT lectures on the evolution of the horn, plays excerpts from many solo pieces, is insulted by Mozart whilst he plays, and is accompanied by the English Chamber Orchestra or piano accompanist during various examples. Not counting the hornists in the ECO, a close inspection of the program and the credits show that the production was actually a collaboration of THREE noted horn virtuosi. One was, of course, BT who did all the horn playing in the examples. Who were the other two and what did they do? (These are living, famous hornists who each contributed essential material to this production). One is plainly visible and participating on screen during portions of the film, the other concentrated his efforts and resources behind the scenes. By way of example, I will eliminate two possibilities. The host was not a hornist and the conductor was not a hornist.

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   Non-horn Offering

5. What is the name of the conductor who Barry Tuckwell frequently credits as "mesmerizing" him into giving the performance of his life. The performance/recording was done in 1966 and the conductor was then 84 years old. Extra Credit-What did he play?

6. What is the name of the composer (not obscure, his work(s) are regular repertoire for many orchestras although he was not prolific) who was also known for his music arranging for Paul Whiteman and orchestrations for George Gershwin? His best known compositions had a distinctive "west American" flavor to them.

7. This question is far more difficult to ask than to answer, in my opinion. In Europe an obscure ex-violinist with the Philharmonia Orchestra (during the D. Brain years) was later launched into world prominence for conducting what was equivalent to what is known in the USA as a "junior or prep college" orchestra to become a well regarded (and well recorded) chamber orchestra (later thoroughly infiltrated with professionals). Who was the violinist/conductor and what is the name of the orchestra.

8. This question is added with the hope that our colleague, David Goldklang, will add it to his list of exceptional horn parts that he has prepared on the NET. Those of us who have performed it will know what I mean. What symphony would I be referring to if I were to mention a symphony almost never performed because, in my opinion, of being cursed with a substandard second and third movement, however the first and fourth movements are superior and many hornists have prayed to Maria Theresa herself to give them the opportunity to play this symphony? What symphony is it?

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