Excerpt Training Duets for Horns by James Boldin is appropriate for college through professional horn players.

Every serious student of the horn should study orchestral excerpts, as this repertoire appears frequently on auditions and provides ample opportunities for developing style, tone, intonation, rhythm, and technique. In this book, prominent excerpts from twenty-two major orchestral works are included as the top line of each duet. The bottom line is an accompaniment derived from the other parts in the orchestra. These duets can be used for audition preparation, sight reading and/or transposition practice, or just for fun when performing the full works with an orchestra is not possible.

Click here to watch a video with author James Boldin.

Contents include:

Bach: Mass in B Minor

Beethoven: Overture to “Fidelio”, Symphony #6, 7, and 9

Brahms: Piano Concerto #1 and 2, Symphony #1, 2, and 3

Bruckner: Symphony #4

Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B Minor

Franck: Symphony in D Minor

Mahler: Symphony #9

Mendelssohn: Nocturne from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte

Rossini: Overture to “The Barber of Seville”

Saint-Saëns: Symphony #3

Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche

Tchaikovsky: Symphony #5

Wagner: Prelude to Act III from “Lohengrin”

"I encourage all horn teachers and students of orchestral repertoire to purchase Excerpt Training Duets for Horns. Besides the powerful lessons this book offers, these duets are just fun to play. I will certainly be using this book in my studio." - Randy C. Gardner, Second Horn (Retired), The Philadelphia Orchestra; Artist-In-Residence, Temple University Boyer College of Music and Dance; Professor Emeritus, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Author, Mastering the Horn’s Low Register and Good Vibrations: Masterclasses for Brass Players

“Excerpt Training Duets for Horns is a brilliant innovation whose time has come. Such a method for audition preparation has been sorely needed for a long time. I see it as a pioneer concept that will surely be replicated for all other orchestral instruments.” - Bob Watt, Assistant Principal Horn, Los Angeles Philharmonic (Emeritus)

"Once again, James Boldin presents a creative way to approach material that is usually learned and practiced alone. In his "Excerpt Training Duets for Horns," students can play along with another part that helps to internalize important melodies as well as rhythms that are integral to the orchestral parts. Teachers and students alike will find a fun challenge in many of the accompanying "second horn" parts, as well as a fresh way to teach, learn, and experience these passages." - Gina Gillie, DMA, Professor of Music, Pacific Lutheran University

"A valuable new resource for teaching and studying orchestral excerpts." - John Ericson, Professor of Horn, Arizona State University, Former Third Horn, The Nashville Symphony

"This is easily Dr. Boldin’s most useful book yet. It presents an engaging way to experience the musical context of these standard excerpts, and a more interactive alternative to the time-honored practice of playing along with a recording. It will be especially helpful for excerpts that can be musically ambiguous when studied out of context. I look forward to using this book with my students!" - Daren Robbins, DMA, Instructor of Horn and Assistant Dean of Professional Services, College of Music, Mahidol University

"A gem for any studio teacher! Both student and professor will enjoy playing these excerpts, with fun and virtuosic duet lines that imitate the orchestral score. Great teaching tool for orchestral excerpts as well as fun duets to play in the studio!" - Kristine Coreil, DMA, Professor of Horn, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Third Horn, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra

41 pages, spiral bound to lay flat on the music stand

Click here to learn more about the author.