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==What in tarnation is a "horn"?==
A '''horn''' is a brass instrument with a conical bore.


I<span style="font-size: 80%; vertical-align: super;">[[microtonal_horn#note1|(1)]]</span> mean a conical-bore brass instrument buzzed with the lips. But not a tuba.
A ''natural horn'' has no valves, and can only play a series of overtones, which are near the [[harmonic series]].
The player can adjust the pitch of the note by placing their hand in the bell.
In [[Historical temperaments|19th century]] technique, notes near the 7th and 11th [[harmonic]]s were often written and could be finagled with different hand placements.
Even a [[Diatonic scale|C major scale]] in the lower octave could be negotiated.
There was no avoiding an certain unevenness of tone, however.


We can speak of ''natural horns'' and ''valved horns''. Natural horns have no valves, and are naturally near the [[harmonic series]] in their series of tones:
To satiate the modulatory desires of classical composers, horns were soon made with a system of interchangeable ''crooks'' which, when inserted, would give a variety of keys.
But this only encouraged the composers, and soon they were writing parts for two pairs of horns in different keys.
Instrument builders tried in many ways to combine multiple keys into a single horn, settling finally on the rotary valve system prevalent in horns today.


(fancypants graphic 1)
==Valves==
 
On a valved horn, there are three valves which the fingers of the left hand operates. The first valve causes the effective tube length to lengthen enough to lower the [[fundamental]] by a whole step (200¢). The second valve does the same, only by a half step (100¢), and the third, a minor third (300¢). In combinations these valves can lower the fundamental by up to a [[tritone]].
In [[Historical temperaments|19th century]] technique, notes near the 7th and 11th [[harmonic]]s were often written and could be finagled with different hand placements; even a [[Diatonic scale|C major scale]] in the lower octave could be negotiated. There was no avoiding an certain unevenness of tone, however.
 
To satiate the modulatory desires of classical composers, horns were soon made with a system of interchangeable ''crooks'' which, when inserted, would give a variety of keys. But this only encouraged the composers, and soon they were writing parts for two pairs of horns in different keys. Instrument builders tried in many ways to combine multiple keys into a single horn, settling finally on the rotary valve system prevalent in horns today.
 
==So how does it work?==
 
Well, there are three valves which the fingers of the left hand operates. The first valve causes the effective tube length to lengthen enough to lower the [[fundamental]] by a whole step (200¢). The second valve does the same, only by a half step (100¢), and the third, a minor third (300¢). In combinations these valves can lower the fundamental by up to a [[tritone]].
 
So, the situation for a ''single F horn'' is something like this:
 
(fancypants graphic 2)


A ''double horn'', on the other hand, has a thumb valve which switches between two keys, usually Bb and F. It does this by adding/subtracting an initial length of tubing and also (usually) with different lengths of tubes for the valves.
A ''double horn'', on the other hand, has a thumb valve which switches between two keys, usually Bb and F. It does this by adding/subtracting an initial length of tubing and also (usually) with different lengths of tubes for the valves.


==How can a horn play microtonal?==
==Microtonal playing==
 
Horns are naturally microtonal since they play overtones.
Hah! How can a horn ''not'' play microtonal? Horn players do a lot of hand adjusting to get their harmonic-series notes closer to equal temperament. If they were convinced to stop doing this, and also to play the harmonics that they usually don't (namely 7, 11, and 13), the horn might theoretically be capable of such a scale (notated in [[72-edo]]):
Harmonics relatively low in the harmonic series (such as 7, 11 and 13) can thus be played quite easily.
 
Usually, players make hand adjustments to get their harmonic-series notes closer to equal temperament.
(fancypants graphic 3)
 
On the other hand, a horn player ''can'' do a lot with his/her hand. How much? (fancypants sound file!)


So-called double horns (F horns with a Bb valve), go extremely sharp in the higher non-Bb-valve partials; the valve is used to get the upper register in tune. This means that these kinds of horns actually have a huge variety of intonation in the upper register through various combinations of valves. More than other brass instruments which are typically designed to have in-tune partials, and thus don't need that extra valve for tuning their high ranges.
So-called double horns (F horns with a Bb valve), go extremely sharp in the higher non-Bb-valve partials; the valve is used to get the upper register in tune. This means that these kinds of horns actually have a huge variety of intonation in the upper register through various combinations of valves. More than other brass instruments which are typically designed to have in-tune partials, and thus don't need that extra valve for tuning their high ranges.


Do you like [[quartertone]]s? [[John Eaton]] has this useful tip from [http://www.newmusicbox.org/page.nmbx?id=17fp02 an interview in NewMusicBox]: tune the F side a quartertone lower than the Bb side!
[[John Eaton]] has this useful tip from [http://www.newmusicbox.org/page.nmbx?id=17fp02 an interview in NewMusicBox]: tune the F side a quartertone lower than the Bb side!


==That's not good enough! We need new instruments!==
==Extended valve systems==


You're right! [[George Secor]] especially has done some thinking about valve systems extended to alternate EDOs. See the bottom of [http://sonic-arts.org/monzo/trumpet/trumpet-intonation.htm this page.] No cases of actual horns built...yet.
[[George Secor]] especially has done some thinking about valve systems extended to alternate EDOs.
See the bottom of [http://sonic-arts.org/monzo/trumpet/trumpet-intonation.htm this page.]
No cases of actual horns built yet.


==What existing music features the horn in a particularly microtonal way?==
==Microtonal repertoire==
* György Ligeti's ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008UVCE/103-4149462-7074248?v=glance&n=5174 Hamburg Concerto]'' "for horn &amp; chamber orchestra with 4 obbligato natural horns"
* György Ligeti's ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008UVCE/103-4149462-7074248?v=glance&n=5174 Hamburg Concerto]'' "for horn &amp; chamber orchestra with 4 obbligato natural horns"
* ''Epilogue'' (1985) from ''Les Espaces Acoustiques'' by Gerard Grisey is for orchestra with 4 solo horns, in a (crystallized) harmonic-series paradigm
* ''Epilogue'' (1985) from ''Les Espaces Acoustiques'' by Gerard Grisey is for orchestra with 4 solo horns, in a (crystallized) harmonic-series paradigm
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== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Michael Hugh Dixon]] (aka the Brass Whisperer)
* [[Michael Hugh Dixon]] a.k.a. the Brass Whisperer
 
== Notes ==
<ol><li>[[Jacob Barton]], I<span style="font-size: 80%; vertical-align: super;">[[microtonal_horn#note2|(2)]]</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> think</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.5;">[[Mike Battaglia]]</span></li></ol>


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
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