Why are there so many French Horns in Orchestras?

Frankly 2 was never enough.

[ScottLegerHorn]

FYI this was meant to be a YT short but I couldn't get the edit down under a minute. So whoever makes this decisions let us upload 90 second videos at least please

[seba]

“As a professional third horn play I’m obviously very happy about that” 💀😭

[aarohan.evades.taxes.]

It's not real music if there are no horns in the ensemble 💯

[jojnokirk]

amazing work! and yes i would definitely love to hear the "what everybody's specific job is in the section" story very soon!!!

[tyrepair]

Besides “tradition”, the reason for keeping 4 horns in the orchestra is due to the fact that the bells still point backwards. So, loud sections where all the brass are playing, the conventional wisdom is 2 horns in unison = one trumpet or one trombone.

[NoeJrSoliz]

IMO you deserve 1st horn, u r like, my idol in the music world❤🎉🎉

[m_jannik]

Honestly I'm the only horn in the orchestra I play in, but there are 17 clarinets😅

[TomKimmerer]

When I tell people about the difficulty of playing horn, I like to point out that the horn section is the only part of an orchestra with a utility player to give the first a break. So not only is 2 not enough, neither is 4 for some works where we need a fifth. (Sometimes we need a fifth after the concert as well).

[RechtmanDon]

The FH is the only instrument routinely played muted, with the right hand in the flare. Originally, this facilitated intonation (playing in tune); with the modern keyed horn, this still aids, but to a lesser extent. Now note two things: the horn's flare does not face the audience, but is more likely to face a bit toward the back of the stage than forward. Also, the hand in the horn further softens the sound. This is why if a composer wishes the horn section to compete with the rest of the louder brass, dynamic marks are usually one to two degrees louder than that for the rest of the brass. From an acoustic perspective, four horns is not four times louder than one horn (don't remember exactly, but maybe 2 to 2 1/2 times louder? Someone else may be able to provide the exact math...), and having four helps ensure greater ease of balance of the horn section with the rest of the orchestra.

[saxorod]

Oh thanks because sometimes i would get confused

[thegoodgeneral]

Modern orchestras should have a minimum of 6 modern double/triple horns.

[IdkBro-rdgx]

I liked the loud sounds the horns made in the beginning, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't get the sound out

[classicalricky]

I love the “Strauss, what are you doing???” 😂 what piece is that Strauss, btw?

[hartekunst]

Odd numbered horns high, even numbered horns low. Except for Bernstein. There everybody's high.

[jordanbox]

Nobody gonna talk about the horn piece around 1:01??

[martineyles]

Did Strauss write that for 14 horns or 20? I thought there were 8 on stage parts. I'm hoping I can make the date to play the offstage parts again, but I am jealous of those playing the onstage parts.

[AOSMAKAKMS]

Well, there’s typically only one tuba which is funny lmao

[NigelRamses]

Before using more than four horns, check your state and municipal regulations; otherwise, you may find yourself in big treble.

[itznoxy]

The real tragedy is that we settled on just 4 horns as the "standard" when 6 or 8 is just so much richer and in my opinion balances better against all the heavy brass players.

[lukekent]

A joke you've probably heard. Whats the difference between a bull and an orchestra? The bull has horns at the front and the a-hole at the back