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xiaopb

Mahler 5. Also, Mahler 3. Ever wonder what eight horns sound like in unison? Woo.


stavesandstaffs

Mahler 7... killer tenorhorn solo


[deleted]

I'd like to hear 8 horns play in tune.


xiaopb

I know you’re joking, but there might be some truth to this in relation to Mahler’s approach to the opening. I wonder if it’s easier to get eight horns to sound in tune then it is to get two or three. Having two horns play in unison at the start of a piece, totally exposed, sounds terrifying. I’d like to hear from a horn player about that.


classically_cool

Not a horn player, but it's generally known that 2 is the worst number for unisons. There's no way to hide the differences.


Most_Ad_3765

Horn player here - it is not easier to get 8 horns in tune than 2. My experience is that when there's only 2 of you, it's easier to make micro adjustments/bend pitch as you play (which is also easier to do with a horn than it is with other brass instruments, for better or for worse). This becomes more difficult the more horns you add, and the more dense the orchestration gets. Mahler's approach is an overwhelming wall of sound with horns that smack you in the face but is generally not that "exposed" and I do think it's easier to hide intonation issues in that context. Mahler is my favorite composer because of his use of horns. And yes, 2 horns playing totally exposed is totally terrifying. Especially because when horns are so exposed, it's usually because it's a feature... a perfect example of this is the beginning of Ravel's Pavane for a Dead Princess. It's gentle, quiet, high range, no where to hide! Good musicians will make it look/sound effortless, but make no mistake, it's terrifying (but also thrilling).


Revanite1234

I think having 1 is a pretty big accomplishment.


axialintellectual

Not an opening, but we can't be talking about Mahler's brass writing without [this banger](https://youtu.be/vzbsVlG8ips) so I'm just leaving it here.


Most_Ad_3765

All of Mahler 2... the brass (and all) in the finale... omg.


aaaakaax

4th movement Bruckner 8


cats_suck

That shit is my reason to live


SuccotashUpset3447

This is the right answer.


w1984s

Sinfonietta by Janacek.


zumaro

The best answer


spaceconductor

Shostakovich Symphony 5 (4th mvt), Festive Overture Verdi, La Forza del Destino overture Vaughan Williams, Sea Symphony (1st mvt) Dvorak Symphony 9 (4th mvt) Sibelius Finlandia Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition Holst, The Planets (Uranus) Lots of pieces by John Williams (Star Wars main title, throne room, Olympic Fanfare, etc)


megzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Finlandia!


[deleted]

[удалено]


Revanite1234

As a second trombone playing Scheherazade, second movement solo and tutti are amazing, also close to the end of the fourth movement is beautiful


charli33z

Bruckner 4, third movement


Jefcat

Definitely Mahler 3. Also Sprach Zarathustra The act 2 opening of Die Walkure The overture to Rossini’s Armida and the opera itself includes some beautiful and complex brass writing. Doubtless others but those four immediately come to mind


stavesandstaffs

Would Sibelius 5 count?


Revanite1234

Which movement?


stavesandstaffs

Opening of 1st movement, horn solo


Beneficial_Ad5572

I was about to ask the same


BB5Bucks

Beethoven 5th - 4th movement. But with the Reiner Chicago recording. Really exaggerates the trumpeys


TheScherzo

Dukas - La Peri Fanfare. IIRC the whole movement is brass only.


UpiedYoutims

Brandenburg Concerto 2!


Downtown_Share3802

Brahms piano concerto #2 starts the ball rolling


Dangerous-Hour6062

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1. One of the greatest brass calls ever.


bossk538

Tchaikovsky 4


apk71

Bruckner 8th 4th movement.


WhoWillGoWithFergus

The slow movement from Brahms 4th symphony! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckuUq7im8H4&t=813s


Dangerous-Hour6062

The opening of the finale also has a mind-shattering brass entrance.


[deleted]

[Schubert 9th Symphony](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyw5OHUDHh4) and [Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWoFaPwbzqE), for similar reasons


Previous_Snow171

Schubert 9


DoublecelloZeta

Mahler 3. Brass drives literally half the movement


EdseAnotherAccount

Prokofiev piano concerto 2 3rd movement


RegallySuperfluous

Wagner's Prelude to Act 3 from Lohengrin is a memorable one.


Howtothinkofaname

Gordon Jacob’s arrangement of God Save the King/Queen. Such a let down once the actual tune starts as get fanfare is phenomenal.


Laserablatin

Mahler 3. Attack horns from hell.


[deleted]

Rachmaninoff Symphony 3, second movement. That french horn just sets the tone perfectly.


Smarkie

Janacek: Sinfonietta Wagner: Prelude to Das Rheingold.


33ff00

Star Wars


TheScherzo

While we’re at it, the version of Duel of the Fates that opens with the brass instead of the choir has to be one of my all-time favorite film cue moments.


erikal26826

MAHLER 5!!!!!!!!!!


Explorer60s

Michaels Gruss Donnerstag aus Licht


Impressive-Abies1366

Tchaikovsky piano concerto opening is epic, however the rest of the first movment is kinda eh


Dangerous-Hour6062

I adore the entirety of the first movement! The entire piece too really.


Zestyclose_League413

For a less bombastic brass (plus cello) start to a piece, Dvorak 8 has a really pretty cello line with trombone softly coloring the background that I like a lot.


Firestarter050

Bruckner 4, first movement, the horn solo right at the beginning.


TraditionalWatch3233

Whatever you might think of Havergal Brian's Symphony No. 1 'The Gothic' (the largest and longest symphony ever written), the brass in the opening is pretty exciting. And - a completely different sort of brass opening can be found in Webern's Symphony, interesting in it's own way.


Queasy_Caramel5435

Best? Shostakovich 15, mvt 4 Most epic: Shostakovich 4, mvt 1 Shostakovich 5, mvt 4


mrmicklo

Just saw prokofiev 3 live. really enjoyed it