Music Composition DUMmIES

On the good side, the French horn is such a beautiful, pure-sounding instru-

ment that there is nothing it doesn’t blend well with. The French horn can

just as easily fit in with a woodwind section as it can a brass section. The

French horn is a transposing instrument set in the key of F, which means that

to write music for the French horn, you have to transpose the music up a per-

fect fifth from concert pitch (Figure 14-7).

On paper, this is fabulously easy. Just remember that perfect fifths are located

exactly two lines or two spaces on the staff above (or below) the originating

note. If you’re writing music for the French horn on a different instrument,

such as the piano, just remember that perfect fifths are separated by seven

half steps (black and white keys), or three whole steps and one half step.

To hear Write

CG

C#/D% G#/A%

DA

D#/E% A#/B%

EB

FC

F#/G% C#/D%

GD

G#/A% D#/E%

AE

A#/B% F

BF#/G%

The French horn’s range is F#3 to C6 (see Figure 14-8).

&

?

œ

œ

œ

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Figure 14-7:
Perfect
fifths are
easy to spot,
being two
lines or
spaces
apart.

Chapter 14: Composing for the Standard Orchestra 173