Last month the musical world lost Gunther Schuller, an immensely talented artist with wide ranging interests (image linked from hornsociety.org). There have already been a number of excellent tributes to Mr. Schuller, including his obituary in the New York Times, and today I would like to share a few items in memory of him.

First, here is a summary of my previous interactions with Mr. Schuller, originally posted here.

Horn players are probably most familiar with him as the author of  Horn Technique, which has become a classic resource for players and teachers everywhere.  And though he is generally more recognized today as a composer, author, and conductor, Schuller began his musical career as a professional horn player, holding Principal positions with the Cincinnati Symphony and the Metropolitan Opera.  You can find another biography with more details on his performing career on the International Horn Society‘s site.  I’ve had the opportunity to work with Mr. Schuller several times over the years, first while attending the Brevard Music Center, where he ran an intensive two-week conductor’s workshop.  One of the BMC ensembles I played with that summer served as the “lab” orchestra for Mr. Schuller’s conducting students.  Schuller possesses an amazing ear, and is able to hear incredibly small details through even the thickest orchestrations.  It wasn’t always easy performing under his baton, but I certainly came away from the experience with a greater knowledge of music and musicianship.  Later, during doctoral work at UW-Madison, I got a chance to work with Schuller again as an assistant for a course he was teaching as a visiting lecturer.  The course was called simply “The Creative Process,” and involved a number of great discussions between Schuller and the students about composition and art in general.

Next, I have some brief excerpts recorded from lectures he gave during his residency at UW-Madison (mentioned in the above quote) in fall 2005. I was delighted to find these buried on an old hard drive, and have been fascinated (again) listening to Schuller’s thoughts on horn playing, creativity, and talent. These are only a small sampling of the materials – recorded with Schuller’s permission – and perhaps a way to share all of them can be worked out with his estate. Details for each excerpt are included below.

• “Musical Beginnings,” UW-Madison Horn Studio Class, September 23, 2005
• “Analysis for Performers,” The Compleat Performer Course, September 13, 2005
• “Talent and Originality,” The Creative Process Course, September 14, 2005

Gunther Schuller will certainly be missed, not just by his friends and family, but also by the numerous performers, composers, and other musicians with whom he worked during his long and productive career. As a horn player, I can think of no better way to remember and honor him than by performing some of his music. Here’s a listing of several of his solo and chamber works which involve the horn.

• Concerto No. 1 for Horn and Orchestra
• Trio [oboe, horn, viola]
• Suite for Woodwind Quintet
• Lines and Contrasts [16 horns]
• Music for Brass Quintet
• Studies for Unaccompanied Horn
• Duets for Unaccompanied Horns
• Double Quintet [brass quintet, woodwind quintet]
• Wood Curtain Raiser [flute, clarinet, horn, piano]
• Diptych for Brass Quintet and Orchestra
• Five Pieces for Five Horns
• Little Brass Music [trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba]
• Wind Quintet
• Concerto No. 2 for Horn and Orchestra
• Octet [clarinet, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, bass]
• Trois Hommages  [horn and piano]
• Three Pieces for Horn and Violin
• Blues  [brass quintet, bass, and drums]
• Nocturne for Horn and Piano
• Sonata for Horn and Piano
• Romantic Sonata [clarinet, horn, piano]
• Impromptus and Cadenzas [bassoon, clarinet, horn, oboe, violin, cello]
• Brass Quintet No. 1
• Brass Quintet No. 2
• Sextet for Left Hand Piano and Woodwind Quintet
• Ohio River Reflections [horn, violin, viola, piano]
• Quodlibet [oboe, horn, violin, cello, harp]
• Quintet for Horn and Strings