I'm not a very big fan of brass instruments for whatever reason, but French horns can really, really send me. For some reason, they have this transcendent quality that makes a song soar with great visuals. In particular, I'm thinking of 3 songs.

David Bowie's "Heathen (The Rays)" is such a perfect closer to Heathen, which carries an aura of death and coming to terms with a life past. To me, those horns that frame "Heathen" perfectly form a picture of Bowie standing with the sun at his back, the rays emanating over his head as he reflects on his years. It almost feels Biblical.

Then there's Björk's "New World", the closer to Selmasongs, an album that consists of songs recorded as a soundtrack to the gripping film Dancer in the Dark. SPOILER ALERT As Björk clamors for a new world to see, which is particularly poignant given Selma's blindness, those horns just seem to be sending her into Heaven, "softly walking on air". Again, this almost feels Biblical, with Björk slowly ushered away in a golden chariot reserved for the most storied of martyrs.

Lastly, there's Queensryche's "Silent Lucidity". Yes, I like this song. Perhaps this one is aided by the lushly extravagant video, but the subtle use of French horns here just send the song into the stratosphere of a father's unswerving love and wisdom.

I can't quite put my finger on what it is about French horns that generate such strong visuals to me. Perhaps my fellow orgers, you can explain it to me, or share your favorite songs featuring said instrument.

And yeah, I know you can't be "softly walking" in a chariot, but just go with it.

I love pretty much all brass, but French horns are probably the most unique of all brass instruments. They're quiet. The notes are usually sustained. They don't draw a lot of attention to themselves, but they're very effective. There's something mythical about their sound.

GangstaFam said:

Maybe it's just that. They sound mythical and ancient.

Moonbeam said:

I know they're called French horns, but I get a very Ancient Greek feeling from them - like I'm flying a kite at the Parthenon or something.

They leave you speechless, huh?

GangstaFam said:

Org bug. But yeah, I can't get a decent thread around here to save my life!

Like they were used by The Beatles in the tune Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band maybe?

I've read that french horns are many times used in classical music to announce the entrance of gods or royalty so your feeling is well grounded.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

They are a perfect instrument for conveying divinity.

Moonbeam said:

Just couldn't resist that one.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

I make it easy, I know.

Moonbeam said:

theAudience said:[quote]Like they were used by The Beatles in the tune Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band maybe?

freedom horns!

You will never get laid, playing that thing.

Stax said:

2freaky4church1 said:

But you can get into Heaven.

discretion edit
[Edited 6/19/06 21:40pm]

Moonbeam said:

Same thing.

heartbeatocean said:

what were you gonna say?

GangstaFam said:

oh something about a french horn player I once dated...it didn't work out.

heartbeatocean said:

Do you assosciate bad feelings with that instrument now?

GangstaFam said:

Speaking of French Horns, I think it represents the wolf in Peter and the Wolf. So, its got that going for it.

GangstaFam said:

not at all. I think it's interesting I dated a french horn player because they're a fairly rare breed. He took me to hear a Tschaikovsky symphony because it featured a large french horn solo.

It's funny this gets a thread, because I've played in orchestras most of my life and listened to a lot of classical music and have never had any feeling about the french horn one way or another.

heartbeatocean said:

They kinda slip under the radar.

Stax said:

...Which is nice.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431
[Edited 6/19/06 23:39pm]

GangstaFam said:

I can see how they could be considered sublime now that you mention it. I've had a really hard time warming up to the clarinet though. Only when I heard jazz clarinet did I learn to appreciate it.

See...orchestras develop these cliques... we have the bland woodwinds over there, and the annoying brass, and prissy flautists...

I suppose the violins are a bunch of snobs.

heartbeatocean said:

Yeah, clarient is a tricky one. I'm not always crazy about it either.

And violinists have every right to be snobbish.

GangstaFam said: