Brahms Alphorn Melody

A young composer Johannes Brahms transcribed this alpine horn melody on a postcard to composer and pianist Clara Schumann while visiting the Swiss Alps.

[rcbuggies]

I hear certain similarities to another horn solo in a brahms symphony!

[gregoryborton]

Playing this must be like playing the french horn but 10x harder; probably as difficult as a 18th century un-valved horn is to play. For those that don't know, every note he plays is controlled only by his lip tension (embouchure), and the slightest change can mean the wrong note is hit (hence why you some times hear the player 'sliding' into a note). It's an instrument based solely on feeling and instinct, as a brass player myself (albeit on a modern trombone, not an alphorn) you just need to 'know' the feel of a certain note.

[officersoulknight]

How could such a ridiculous looking instrument produce such nostalgic and natural music?