Posted by Sean Chisham on December 07, 2002 at 17:09:13:
In Reply to: Strauss 1st Horn Concerto ? posted by MM on December 07, 2002 at 10:19:34:
For Horn in F, read the music as if it was in bass clef, read everything up one step, and add one flat to the key signature. Sometimes the notes will be read up one step and other times up 1/2 step. Basically kick the note up to the next step up and follow whatever the key signature specifies for that note. When it comes to accidentals as written, unless they are a redundant accidental like marking a Bb with a flat sign even though it is already like that in the key, you adjust the note according to the accidental.
For example if the music is written in Eb major for F horn, than you add one flat to the key and make it Ab major. Now read all the notes as if bass clef but up one step. So the third space note would be a C in treble clef. In a bass clef staff the third space is an Eb, remember the key signature. Now take that note up one to the next step and it becomes F. Remember that sometimes you may go up one full step, sometimes one half step. If you had a written G# in the treble clef, than that up a step would have been Ab, except for the sharp. That raises the pitch 1/2 step up just as it always should and the note becomes A natural.
After some practice it will slowly become more natural. I found the best way for me to get better at it was to play familiar music from the Horn literature which was for F horn. The Strauss concertos are some of the better and easier material to do this with because they are not all that technically demanding.
good luck
sean