German vs French Hunting Horns--An Oversimplification (Parforcehorn vs Cor [Trompe] de Chasse)

This is a brief overview of these instruments detailing the differences in their design and how they are used. The Trompe de Chasse (also called the "Cor de Chasse") is the origin of the modern orchestral French horn. It is also the origin of the German Parforcehorn, which is an instrument that developed in Germany through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Apologies for the problems with the video and audio--we are brass technicians, not videographers.

[@sierrahorns]

I just want to make sure that everyone knows that this video is a very brief overview, basically saying "These horns exist!" I know that I've left a lot of stuff out, I know that there is a big difference between Eb and D horn, I know that my wife and I are not professional Trompe or Parforcehorn players. Apologies France and Germany for giving such a bare-bones explanation of your hunting horns, but I was trying to keep this video under 5 minutes...and I failed :)

[@jandierckx7488]

In the first movie, you play on the french horn , but on the german way.... the french way of playing includes a few techniques like vibrato, tayaut, hourvari.
Notes who are played by stopping the bell with your hand, is called "ton boucher"
The french horn is not E flat but D...

[@sierrahorns]

Yes I know, we are not doing the Trompe de chasse or the Cor de Chasse justice here...I'm afraid that we wanted this to just be a very short 5 minute video giving a very brief overview. Most people in the United States don't even know that these instruments exist, and trying to explain the difference between the Eb and the D horn was too much. I hope that this will inspire people to search for videos of proper Trompe players playing properly. :)

[@jamesschwenk4329]

A great demonstration of what these horns are all about; thank you

[@ps-ic8pm]

The German sounds a bit more march-like, while French is more melodious. Both are great historic styles that make me was to be bouncing along on my trusty steed! Thanks for sharing this wonderful info and examples. Are there particular calls on hunting horns that mean something in particular, like bugle calls for the military? (e.g. "the quarry is over here")

[@sierrahorns]

Thank you very much! Yes, there are definitely different calls that have different meanings, although over 300 years of development this function of these horns became very blurred. By the 19th century the use of these horns was far more for making music than for signaling. If you are interested in learning more about these horns, here is a link to a German website with a lot of information: www.parforcehornmusik.de If you go digging through the site you can download a large amount of free sheet music. Here is also a link to a free-to-download copy of a French hunting horn book: imslp.org/wiki/Nouvelle_M%C3%A9thode_de_Trompe_(Bertin%2C_Jean-Baptiste)

[@Rzmo117]

honda civic in the background thats an masterclass

[@sierrahorns]

Everybody loves a 4th generation civic!

[@meyerch-de]

Hey!
2:47 - you can play the Parforcehorn with this hand horn technique. I'm a composer for these instruments and I often use it. Check th-cam.com/video/44vCbXZUIWY/w-d-xo.html at second ~0:50.
Some informations are not quite correct, but keep going!
Greetings from Germany

[@sierrahorns]

Thank you very much for your input! We are learning a lot as a result of sharing this video, including learning that some things we thought were true are not true. We will keep learning!

[@cathyzarker1213]

This was awesome!

[@rolandscales9380]

Trompe de chasse : pronounced "tromp duh shass". "Tromp deh shass" sounds too much like "trompe d'échasses", presumably a horn intended for playing when you're walking around on stilts.

[@sierrahorns]

We're working on our pronunciations - we speak a little German but no French, so that is something we need to rectify!

[@mw_354]

OMG, so many false informations.....
You can change the Parforce from eb to b to switch between concert and hunting - all german hunting signals are written in b for the small Fürst-Pless-Horn so you can play with them..
You show a french cor de chasse in eb, which is a totally different instrument than the french trompe de chasse in d - with its techniques as hourvari, tayaut etc.....and all french hunting signals are written for the trompe.
Please redo this video!!!
(....and yes - I live in both contries and play all of these horns in different groups)

[@andrewhale337]

here is a very informative Video on the french style by the foremost German authority on both the French and German styles! (one of the few non-french natives knowledgeable on the subject)
th-cam.com/video/goTffVqGboE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7MFghWgo6mqQr7eI

[@sierrahorns]

Since making and releasing this video we have learned a lot more about these horns. Thank you for your comment -- we are working on better learning how to play these wonderful instruments. As with so many things, once you think you know some information about a subject you realize that it is only the tip of the iceberg.

[@cathyzarker1213]

This was awesome!