Maynard - INSANE FRENCH HORN PIECE!

"MAYNARD" - for horn and piano by Stephen Prutsman
-Commissioned and written for William VerMeulen
-Performed by virtuoso William VerMeulen on horn and Prutsman on piano
-Recorded December 9, 2019 in Duncan Recital Hall at Rice University in Houston, TX

[@marcellocamogli]

There are no high notes or low notes for William... Notes are all equal, like on a piano. This is just stunning!

[@hornguru]

Thank you very much!

[@kanayoduru5186]

I have never heard horn playing as smooth and as colorful as I just heard in this video. The level of comfort with those impossibly high notes is simply astounding. As a high school horn player myself, this is an inspiration! And what a piece!! So dynamic and fluid!

[@hornguru]

Thank you. You may also enjoy some of the other live performances on the site, including the Bride of the Waves encore performance. Enjoy!

[@jaywatson8720]

French horns are one of the most difficult to play brass instruments out there but when you see someone who is great on one then they’re really great.

[@Funky_Ghost]

Without a doubt, French Horn is my favorite of the brass instruments. Mr. VerMeulen, this is my first experience with your playing. WOW! The dynamics tickled all the right places, but you really had me when you punch me in the nerd bone. Star Trek. Well played sir. On every level.

[@hornguru]

Thank you, Walter. It was a really fun project.

[@appogiatura]

I am frankly astonished. I’ve been playing and/or listening to the horn most of my life. This expansion of the instrument’s technical and expressive range is really exciting! This deserves way more views. As a subscriber I now feel I have joined a privileged club. Thanks for all you are doing.

[@ferencillenyi458]

A true pro just impressed me. What a great sound with all the colors only a seasoned jazz player should be able to do. I also enjoyed watching the total absolute comfort level. Again all the shades of the colors is placing this performance way about normal or good .... very fine pianist and perfect ensemble.

[@hornguru]

Thanks, Ferenc. Means a lot coming from you.

[@Ddelsasso]

Great Horn Playing. Great Horn Player. Wonderful.

[@totibro7624]

This was absolutely insane.....respect Mr

[@jefftesterman830]

As a former professional horn player I doubt I could have performed that piece as cleanly as he did even in my prime. The difficulty level of this piece is astounding.

[@hornguru]

Thanks! Was fun to work up!

[@joenorsworthy]

I grew up listening to and playing all these tunes. It's a cool arrangement, and your playing is superb. Try a collab with Louis Dowdeswell one day!

[@hornguru]

Thank you!

[@nicwilliams7850]

Great piece and remarkable playing as usual!

[@dwightbrown2808]

Shades of studio orchestra with Dave Sporny!

[@millergrrrl]

Wow, amazing! Starting at around the 6 to 6:55 minute section, this reminded me a bit of New Orleans jazz. Sir, you could play the brass section of a Second Line all by your lonesome. Bravo!!!

[@LuoxianHe]

Bravo! 👏

[@misahorna]

Excellent! Mr. VerMeulen is one fantastic horn player 📯 Great piece by Stephen Prutsman 🎼 I especially like Strat Trek theme 😀

[@hornguru]

Thank you. Stephen wrote a fantastic piece!

[@FourfuxAche]

Well done, great playing!

[@deadstar4955]

Star Trek sample goes crazy

[@genoafire1]

Wow!

[@y0_kai]

wow

[@BestestFriend49]

Wow.

[@DonBernhard]

Was that a Star Trek reference at 3:30 ?

[@suzanneportch113]

Insanely good ❤

[@thylart]

What an amazing performance, I'd love to get my paws on the music and have a perusal at all the different references, can this sheet music be found online? Sounds so fun, even if incredibly herculean!

[@dwightbrown2808]

We went to school with Maynard's kids at IAA :-)

[@hillrl51]

That is wild. As are you.

[@otikrakosnik]

5:18 who added this tuba part to French horn solo???

[@Jeonjungkook-hy9ex]

When you play French horn so you watched this for inspiration but it made you feel sad because you’ll never be able to play that good 🥲

[@evenommusibanda]

Why are you so negative 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@johannillich1454]

Wunderschöner, warmer Hornton in allen Lagen! 👍👍📯📯📯👏🏻 Welche Hornmarke?

[@hornguru]

Played on a Engelbert Schmid F-Bb-High F Triple horn with a VerMeulen model mouthpiece and rim.

[@avakan5218]

3:30 Was that a hint of...StarTrek? Also amazing playing!

[@hornguru]

Yes, Maynard had recorded a version of Star Trek so the arranger put it in. Also, my nickname is ‘Captain’ after Captain Kirk on Star Trek. Thanks for the nice words.

[@martinpress4980]

Is there anything different or special about either the mouthpiece or the horn itself? Can you make equally beautiful sounds on any other horn? Martin press

[@hornguru]

Martin - I performed this on a VerMeulen model mouthpiece manufactured by Osmun Music and the horn is a Schmid F-Bb-High F triple horn. I generally sound similar on whatever horn I play but this is my usual setup.

[@gaugegunning9851]

What's the 2nd piece that began at around the 3-4 minute mark?

[@hornguru]

Between 3 and 4 minute segues from MacArthur Park to Star Trek to Summer of ‘42.

[@alexreeves2686]

hey i preform there saturday

[@ryannava4881]

😳 this was my facial expression when I heard that high note

[@tiellochridge]

*Which* high note... haha

[@barbarapotts7818]

He's still teaching at Rice?

[@dwightbrown2808]

Yes

[@beneichenseer1353]

not anymore

[@paulafridman4501]

what´s the piece at 5:35?

[@hornguru]

Chameleon

[@hornguru]

Chameleon

[@vincejamison2401]

"Written" for William VerMuelen? Try "arranged". Not much original material here, although extremely well performed.

[@joedickinson1482]

Some sections in the middle resembled actual music.

[@deltafournumbers]

Respectfully, get with the times or stop complaining. Music has evolved and that does not negate its value or legitimacy.

[@KongHunt]

Somebody's jelly...

[@mjojco]

I'm assuming you're unfamiliar with Maynard Ferguson's music? I own dozens and dozens of his albums back from the Stan kenton era to the point of his death. Seen the man many times in concert , met him and his band on several occasions. Trust me this was a sweet and eclectic tribute piece.