Horn Question

How fast can a horn play a scale?

Say, sixteenth notes at quarter=120? 32nds at 120?

Any particular scale is easiest?

32 i dont think so.. i think it doesn't sound well, as I could hear a really fast thing on the horn.

my father plays the horn, there are a lot of horn concertos written for him. I can send you a fast movement if you want.

Sure that would be great

Yeah, 32th at quarter=120 (i.e. 16 notes per second) are probably quite a bit too fast, even with doubletonguing (which many hornists might even do even at half that tempo). The question is also how you want the articulation: For some things (particularly upwards scales) attacking every note (i.e. staccato) is easier (also somewhat depending on the scale), for other scales legato works fine even in fast tempi (especially downwards). But at the tempo you describe, it would sound more like a glissando anyways, which I'd ask for if you really need such a fast movement.

But if you had a concrete example it would be easier to give an estimation of how fast one could play it. E.g. of course it's easier to keep a high tempo for a very short duration than for a really long run, and it's also easier in a medium to high range than in a low range, where the attacks take more time.

I say if it's slurred, the sky is the limit. Otherwise you're limited to how fast the player can tongue. I personally have a fast single tongue and a lousy double tongue - I can single tongue 16th notes at 130 - 140, and I can double tongue 32nd notes at 75 - 85 (which is 16ths at around 150 - 170). Ideally you should be able to double tongue as fast as your single tongue, so I SHOULD be able to double tongue 32nds at 130, but I simply can't.