Horn Tutor : An online learning resource for hornplayers

The valve horn

Sometime between 1815 and 1820, the mechanical valve was invented. This allowed valve horn players to achieve those same "in-between" notes that handhorn players could play, but with better sound and agility. Because of tradition, players still placed their right hand inside the bell of the horn, but it wasn't required for changing notes anymore. Eventually, the valve horn was standardized as a three-valve horn in the key of F.

Most horn makers settled on the use of rotary valves, but in Vienna, they used a complex valve design that used piston valves like trumpets. Vienna horns still use this unique method today.

Around 1900, German inventors were working on a method to combine together two differently sized rotary valve horns for a wider range and easier playing. They took the standard horn in F and merged it with the smaller horn in B flat. This new four valve french horn became known as the double horn and is the standard today.

More valves and other experiments

In the 20th century, inventors tried a number of different combinations and designs such as five or six valve horns. While these new designs sometimes helped with a particular problem like playing stopped notes in tune, using a larger number of valves became too complex for most players and manufacturers.

Today, there are only a few players who use something other than the standard double horn -- for example, triple horns or B flat horns with stopping valves. These players are most likely to be at the professional level of hornplaying.

A brief history of the horn — part 1