"Had I not heard it with my own ears, I would have thought it just impossible."
- composer Louis Spohr, on Russian horn music.

Horn Music Revival In Russia


Meet The Russian Horn Capella ! [play 12 MB video >>]

The Russian Horn Capella & Prof. Hermann Baumann - Henry Purcell's "Andantino"
[play 12 MB video >>]

A wonderful medley of pieces played by the Russian Horn Capella
[play 26 MB video >>]

This music first appeared in Saint Petersburg in 1751 and could be heard for about a hundred years. The Russian horn music principles are quite unique and different from everything else that is known in the world's music. Each player in the Russian horn orchestra can play only one note with his horn. Yet, the sounds of all horns in the orchestra merge into accomplished, diverse and astonishing music.

Since then many people have tried to revive this kind of music that raised rapturous comments from its contemporaries. Yet all these numerous attempts of the past 150 years did not succeed and the verdict was final: Russian horn music was lost forever.

As the secrets of this unique art were lost it seemed impossible that the astonishing sounds of the Russian horns could be heard again. Yet miracles occur. United by the idea of reviving this part of the Russian musical heritage, a group of enthusiasts made the instruments and managed to master the Russian horn playing skills. As a result, The Russian Horn Cappella was born.

The listeners of the music say the horn music has allowed them to have an experience they have never had before. This experience can hardly be expressed in words and goes beyond conventional notions about music. Today you have an opportunity to hear Russian horn music with your own ears.