Horn vibrato

Although some professionals choose to do it, normally you would get weird looks if you vibrato a lot, but... why? Is there a historical basis for it? I have no problem with the sound of vibrato on the horn. Shed some light?

Just aesthetic perception really- you see, i dont like vibrato on the horn at all but i really like it in some instances on the clarinet

Actually, I've recently read that Dennis Brain used a hint of vibrato in the Mozart concertos... I've never heard the recordings, but apparently only hints here and there on the middle movements. Others say he used too much vibrato, and better examples can be found in Hermann Bauman.

In addition, Fitzpatrick in his wonder Study of The Horn and Horn Playing and the Austro-Bohemian Tradition (all 1680-1830) consider the vibrato a typical element to the common production of tone of the natural horn, and so appropriate vibrato on the Mozarts could not be concidered "out of style."

Finally, everything is a factor. Said here, "But the player will still base his/her playing on all the factors that are at work at that time - what kind of horn, the conductor, the style and skill of the orchestra, the characteristics of the hall, the style of the music and, yes, the decision to use, at the appropriate places, pure tones or vibrato."

Dennis didn't use much of any vibrato on those concerti, or the third one, at least, but I can't imagine why he would exclude that and vibrato the others up. If there's any it's so scarce as to be mostly ineffective. It's all smooth, round horn tone.

I wonder how one could determine when to use it. Guess I'm not experienced enough to know that yet?

Hmm...

Here's some reasonably wide vibrato in the opening solo.

YouTube Video

When the Saints go.... Portuguese Horn Ensemble

(Original Source)

I'd love if vibrato (for every instrument and voice, not just horn) was again used a bit more like in baroque: Not as a "standard tone", but an ornamentation. As such, I find it adequate for pretty much every instrument. (And honestly, I'd gladly allow for some more horn vibrato if all those singers and string players showed more restraint in exchange )

I absolutely LOVE it when you find a horn player who can emulate a vibrato as if a vocalist. There is a difference in different vibratos- one can have a "wide" feel, and the other can have a "tremulous" feel. This can be seen with some Broadway singers, but it's impossible to describe with words- you just have to know what I am talking about.

Basically, I like SOME vibratos, and not others.

This tremolo vibrato, as you describe it... I hate it. I hear it mostly in singers and flautists, and I think it is the ugliest sound and can ruin a performance. Vibrato should be used with utmost care and moderation. The horn is no exception to this, it is entitled to as much vibrato as any other instrument, which I feel should not be very much anyways.

Highly appreciated uTube clip

I just wanted to know, how do you notate a vibrato? Just as 'tr'?

If you write tr they will play a trill and not vibrato. Just write "vibrato"/"poco vibrato"/"molto vibrato"/whatever above the notes (respectively "non vibrato" or "senza vibrato" if you specifically don't want one). (Of course, traditionally vibrato was almost never indicated in the notes.)

Sometimes, in newer music you'll find wavey lines that indicate visually how fast and how wide a vibrato should be.