The horn community is full of creative and productive individuals, and it can be difficult to keep track of all the wonderful books, articles, recordings, compositions, and other contributions out there. Recently, Dr. Ricardo Matosinhos sent me an advance copy of his new recording, Hornscapes, for review. The album was recorded in Mindezell, Germany as part of the “Ring of Engelbert Schmid Horn Soloists” series. Ricardo is active as a performer, composer, teacher, and author (of horn-related articles and children’s books), and is well-known for his solo horn works and his series of jazz-inspired and other etude books published by Phoenix Music Publications.

His playing – and that of his collaborator Isolda Crespi – is agile and expressive, combining technical brilliance with satisfying phrasing. These works are fresh and fun, showing off the best of what the horn (and Wagner tuba on two of the compositions) can do.

The complete program notes and a nice promotional video are available online: https://ricardomatosinhos.com/index.php/en/blog/781-hornscapes-en. The subtitle of this recording is “Music for Horn Composed by Horn Players,” and 6 of the 10 works on this album were composed by Matosinhos. Ricardo is an incredibly creative musician, both as a performer and composer. His compositions span everything from Neo-romantic to Jazz and modern extended techniques. Works by Fernando Morais, Emma Gregan, Kerry Turner , and Jeffrey Agrell fill out the rest of the recording.

The Morais is a fantastic opener for an album, lively and attention-grabbing. Australian horn player Emma Gregan’s works are always enjoyable, and her Rose-Coloured Glasses for horn and piano is no exception. Kerry Turner’s Abide with Me is a substantial ten-minute tour de force of modern horn-playing techniques, commissioned by Matosinhos for his doctoral research.

The next several works are by Matosinhos, who carries on a long tradition of horn-player composers. These works are as varied as they are fun and interesting, and any one (or more) of them would make exciting additions to a recital program. It’s worth noting that several of Ricardo’s compositions, including his etudes, make use of multiphonics, which he has honed to an incredibly high level. Having heard Ricardo perform live, I can say that yes, his multiphonics sound just as good in person as they do on the recording!

In this, and everything else on this album, Ricardo sets a very high standard to which we can all aspire. Also worthy of mention are the two works for Wagner tuba, which are welcome additions to a growing repertory of solo music for the instrument. If you’re accustomed to hearing the Wagner Tuba in an orchestral or operatic context, you are in for a suprise! Matosinhos’s Wagner tuba playing is exciting, at times bombastic and at others lyrical and delicate.

Jeffrey Agrell’s Gallimaufry Suite finishes out this fine recording. This virtuosic multi-movement work makes extensive use of the low register, and is quirky and fun to listen to. Bravo to Ricardo Matosinhos, and everyone else involved, on this new recording!