My brother played the french horn since junior high, and so I grew up having the french horn lines in music pointed out to me. Not that I mind. There’s nothing like a heroic french horn line. The gentlemen of Two Steps From Hell seem to understand this, too. Witness for the prosecution:
Winterspell – Listen at the 2:30 mark
Or this: Blackheart – Around the 2:30 mark and again around 3:30
Or Skyworld – Again around 2:30 in–what is it about 2:30?
Prosecution rests.
Horns rule!
What is it about 2:30? Simple theatrics. TSFH writes music for trailers. In every trailer follows a formula. The setup, the tease, the story and then the dialogue cuts out, the music swells, the horns are unleashed, the editor does a series of quick cuts to various emotional scenes and the viewers emotions rise with the horns. The trailer ends with a crash and the viewer leans to their companion and says, “I want to go see that one.” Watch Anna Karenina on their website for the perfect example. Simple math. Horns = triumphant emotion, rising above evil.
It’s what we do. 🙂
So you’re saying when the music needs to represent evil (and/or triumphant evil) they add in trumpets and trombones? (Though the horns get their solo line in The Imperial March).
Dan Stratton commented on ThomStratton.com:
Horns rule!
What is it about 2:30? Simple theatrics. TSFH writes music for trailers. In every trailer follows a formula. The setup, the tease, the story and then the dialogue cuts out, the music swells, the horns are unleashed, the editor does a series of quick cuts to various emotional scenes and the viewers emotions rise with the horns. The trailer ends with a crash and the viewer leans to their companion and says, “I want to go see that one.” Watch Anna Karenina on their website for the perfect example. Simple math. Horns = triumphant emotion, rising above evil.
It’s what we do. 🙂
My hubby played the French horn and the trumpet.
Good or evil, when you need marshal emotion, just add brass (although I think trumpets, being brighter, are more synonymous with good and trombones with evil. Horns, sitting in the middle of the two ranges can be whatever we want to be. John Williams used horns brilliantly. If you want to read a fascinating book on the French horn, pick up A Devil To Play by Jasper Rees. I have a copy you can borrow.
John Williams uses everything brilliantly (Including Itzhak Perlman). I won’t even listen to the soundtrack to Schindler’s List because I simply do not have the time to bawl my eyes out. I might have to take you up on the book.
Jennifer, I suspected you couldn’t have the full monopoly on coolness in you family. 😉
I have two children who argue quite vehemently in favor of the French Horn. … if only it wasn’t so … french.
I suppose you could call it a Freedom Horn, if that’ll help.
Bill, read the book. It isn’t French at all. It is German. The key is F, which somehow got people associating it with France. And you have very smart and beautiful children. Listen to everything they have to say. They are enlightened.
so … NOT like the voices in my head, then?
LOL!
If the voices in your head are accompanied by horns, you’re safe to follow. Flutes? No. Violins? Ask your wife. Tubas? Absolutely not!
Tubas! TUBAS in the DEEP!
See? Told you.
As a French Horn player from 6th grade through college, I appreciate your appreciation of their beauty.
Yes, and the horns aren’t bad looking, either!
Kimberly, I appreciate your appreciation of my appreciation!
But, would that appreciation of appreciating appreciation appreciate, Thom?