French horn

Mandatory music selection requirements for auditioning as a hornist.

Recruiting for this
instrument closes on the
8th of November 2024.

Mandatory music selections

Requirements for your audio recording

Selection may use accompaniment. Sheet music will not be provided.

Mandatory Selection No. 1 - Perform one of the following works:

• Mozart - Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat, K. 417, Mvt 1, mm. 1 - 83
• Mozart - Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat, K. 495, Mvt 1, mm. 1 - 87

Mandatory Selection No. 2 - Perform one of the following works:

• Bozza - En Forêt Op. 40, from 12 to the end
• Arnold - Fantasy for Horn Op. 88, 2 bars before G to the end

Mandatory Selection No. 3 - Perform one of the following works:

• Saint-Saens - Adagio from “Morceau de Concert Op. 94”
• Strauss - Nocturno Op. 7, mm. 61 to the end

Optional Selections - Perform one selection of your choice.

We will contact you with your results

The music selection board will assess your submission. When the assessment is completed, you will be informed whether or not you are selected to participate in a live audition.

Live audition process and preparation

All live auditions will be performed with a Regular Force Band.

The live audition is divided into 4 parts:

• solo performance
• ensemble performance
• theory and aural skill tests
• Music Branch interview

Solo performance

Prepared solos

You must prepare at least two pieces of contrasting musical styles. One piece must be from the list in Mandatory Selection No. 1. The second piece is left to the candidate’s choice.

Mandatory Selection No. 1 - Perform one of the following works:

• Mozart, W.A. - Concerto no.1 (1st or 3rd mvt.)
• Mozart, W.A. - Concerto no. 2 (1st mvt)
• Schumann - Adagio & Allegro
• Busser - Pièce en Re Op.39
• Beethoven - Sonata in F (1st mvt)
• Frakenpohl - Largo & Allegro (from Solos for the Horn Player)

Mandatory Selection No. 2 - Perform a solo of your choice that best exemplifies your abilities.

Optional Selections - Perform a solo of your choice that demonstrates your versatility in any other musical style or on a secondary instrument.

Scales and arpeggios

• Chromatic Scale – from low F# to high C
• Diatonic Scales (All keys) – Major, Harmonic and Melodic Minor
• Arpeggios (All keys) – Major and minor triads, dominant and diminished 7ths

Note: All scales and arpeggios must be played from memory, 2 octaves (where possible), in 16th notes at quarter = 72 bpm.

Designated scales will be followed by either an arpeggio, a Dominant 7th arpeggio built on the 5th degree of the scale, or a Diminished 7th arpeggio built on the 7th degree of the scale, and will resolve to the tonic.

Articulations to be requested:

• All slurred
• All tongued
• 2 slurred, 2 tongued
• 2 tongued, 2 slurred
• 2 slurred, 2 slurred
• 3 slurred, 1 tongued
• 1 tongued, 3 slurred
• 1 tongued, 2 slurred, 1 tongued

Ensemble performance

Prepared pieces

Perform various styles of music playing in different ensembles. Material will be provided 4 weeks prior to your audition.

Sight-reading

Perform various styles of music while sight-reading in different ensembles. Material is provided at the audition.

Theory and aural skill tests

Musical theory

A music theory test will be performed and you will recognize:

• signs
• terms
• chords
• intervals
• score types
• transposition
• abbreviations
• time signature
• identifying keys
• cadences and melody writing
• major, minor and other scales and modes

Aural Skills

The aural akills test will including the following:

• melodic dictation
• incorrect notes in a given melody
• separate dictation treble clef and bass clef
• intervals - harmonic, melodic, ascending and descending
• chords (triads) - major, minor, 1st and 2nd inversion and 4 notes chords: Dom7, dim7, aug7

Music Branch interview

A selection panel within the Regular Force Band will assess you. After the audition, you will be interviewed by the panel. All recordings and assessments will be sent to DHH Music for final selection.

Final selection will be based on the panel’s recommendations.