Review: “Twenty Difficult Etudes for the Horn’s Middle Register”

Keeping with last week’s topic of middle/low range, I thought I’d mention these really great etudes I’ve discovered, “Twenty Difficult Etudes for the Horn’s Middle Register” by Daniel Grabois.  As stated in my post “Staying motivated,” I was working through the Verne Reynolds etudes the beginning of this summer when I realized my current difficulty with the Reynolds etudes was not with the notes or high range (my difficulties in the past), but in going in and out of the middle register.  So I’ve decided to shelve the Reynolds etudes for a while and work on something comparatively difficult that focused exclusively on my middle register.

Mr. Grabois is the new horn professor at my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin- Madison, replacing Doug Hill, who recently retired.  I remember when this book first came out a few years ago; I thought back then that the idea of a book of middle register etudes was a very good and interesting idea. When I found out that Mr. Grabois got the big UW horn job, I admit that it did pique my interest in these etudes again, I needed some middle register etudes, and so I finally went out and purchased them.

From his website:

There aren’t many etude books that focus on this mushiest of registers.

We all spend uncountable hours learning how to play high notes and low notes. Then, a solo like the one from Pictures at an Exhibition comes along, and we can’t play it with that wonderful ringing tone that would be so easy if only the thing were written an octave up.

Most players have at least one register break. For some, it hovers around F below middle C. For others, it sits around Bb, or C, or D. Many players have more than one break. No matter your situation, these etudes will force you to shift over and over until you master the art of traveling across your break.

These etudes are written in a melodic, espressivo style, using a contemporary musical language. I have tried to hit every possible troublesome or vexatious issue in the middle register. If the etudes drive you nuts, I’ve accomplished my goal.

Intriguing, no?  Well, after playing out of this book for a month, I can say yes, these etudes are really nasty!  They are written using contemporary harmonic language, yet are also very melodic and tuneful, which keeps my interest in a way that no other middle register etudes do (such as the Hermann Neuling low horn etudes).    They alternate between between fast and slow etudes, and they are really kicking my butt!  I’m doing one etude a week, yet I’m finding that one week is not enough time for me to master each one.  I’m going to have to cycle through them again once I finish the book.  I’m noticing much improvement in my middle range after beginning work on these etudes, which is very gratifying.  They have earned an honored place among my personal favorite etudes, right next to Kopprasch, Concone/Shoemaker and Reynolds.

The UW horn studio will be in excellent hands.  I heard Mr. Grabois’ quintet, the Meridian Arts Ensemble, back when I was a student at UW, and I remember that it was one of the finest brass quintets I’d ever heard perform.  Mr. Grabois is a fine horn player and (based on these etudes) also an excellent composer.  I predict he will carry the torch passed on by Doug Hill excellently!