Klarinet Archive - Posting 000491.txt from 2002/04

From: "James Lytthans" <lytthans@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] English/French horns
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 13:48:14 -0400

<What's English about a cor anglais?>

Early alto oboes (English horns) were built with a 90 degree bend in the
middle and were referred to by the French as "cor angle (accent grave), i.
e., "angled horn". The Brits, being a bit proud of their language, though
the French meant "anglais", or English. Both words are pronounced the same.
With the advent of the bocal, the English horn was straightened out, but the
name was not. Tradition!.

As far as the French horn's name: French aristocracy used the hunting horn
in the chase, and to serenade the entourage after the hunt. The French were
the first to utilize the natural horn in orchestral music, hence the name
"French horn".

IMHO.........

-----
Jim Lytthans
Anaheim, CA
http://home.earthlink.net/~lytthans/index.htm
Principal Clarinet - La Mirada Symphony Orchestra
http://www.cityoflamirada.org/symphony.htm
Claremont Symphonic Winds
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~dooley/csw.html

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