Too few young people are learning the French horn, which means that fewer excellent players are competing for places in conservatoires. This important instrument for orchestras and chamber music is at risk. The Holland Festival and partners are organising the Save the French Horn programme to reverse this trend. It was launched last year, after a year work on Save the Bassoon. The French horn player Christine Chapman from Ensemble Musikfabrik is one of the campaign’s ambassadors. The French horn provides the focus for the following events at this year’s festival:
20.06.2017
8:30 pm
Orchester-Finalisten
Karlheinz Stockhausen | Nebadon (2007) for French horn and electronics
Christine Chapman, French horn
Karlheinz Stockhausen | Orchester-Finalisten (1996) from Mittwoch aus LICHT
Students of the Royal Conservatory Amsterdam
Link to the event
21.06.2017
5 pm
Panel discussion: Why should the French horn be saved?
A debate with Ruth Mackenzie (the Holland Festival’s artistic director), Morris Kliphuis (French horn player for the band Kapok), Herman Jeurissen (French horn teacher at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam), and Christine Chapman (Ensemble Musikfabrik French horn player) on the need for the campaign. During the panel discussion, there will also be a performance of John McGuire’s composition Decay (1967-70) for eight French horns, played by Christine Chapman and conservatory students.
John McGuire | Decay (1967-70) for eight French horns
Link to the event
23.06.2017
8:30 pm
Black Angels
George Crumb | An Idyll for the Misbegotten (Images III) (1985) Arrangement for French horn by Robert Patterson
George Crumb | Dream Sequence (Images II) (1976)
George Crumb | From: A Journey Beyond Time (American Songbook II) (2003)
1. Swing Low, Swing Chariot
2. Joshua Fit de Battle Ob Jerico
3. Steal Away
4. Oh, A-Rock-a My Soul
6. Sit Down, Sister
7. Nobody Knows de Trouble I See
George Crumb | Black Angels: Thirteen Images from the Dark Land (Images I) (1970) for electronic string quartet
Claron McFadden, soprano
Christine Chapman, French horn
Ragazze Quartet
Slagwerk Den Haag
Ives Ensemble
