Horn Beginnings

Greetings, dear friends and fellow music aficionados! Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and prepare to embark on a magnificent musical journey, as we inaugurate the Horn Journey Blog! 🎉📯

This blog is an authentic dive into my musical world, an intimate journey that explores the richness and complexity of the life of a French horn player. Each post is a piece of the puzzle that unveils the experiences, challenges, and humorous moments that have shaped my musical trajectory. Beyond mere narratives, I aspire to be a conduit of knowledge, offering glimpses into the insights I've garnered and the continuous quest for wisdom that propels me forward. Embracing the spirit of a lifelong learner, I invite you to join me on this expedition and to engage in the comments, sharing your thoughts, questions, and experiences. Together, let's foster a space where the love for music and the pursuit of knowledge intertwine.🙏

As I pen down the first notes of this digital symphony, it feels only right to introduce myself—a humble wanderer navigating the intricate landscapes of the French horn. I'm Luís Vieira, born on November 2nd, 1988, under the Portuguese sun in the charming town of Castelo de Paiva. A place where melodies echo through cobblestone streets and the river Douro weaves tales of timeless beauty. Castelo de Paiva, the picturesque canvas where my life's overture unfolded, is a town nestled in the northern reaches of Portugal.

 

It was here, that my musical journey took its first steps. The local music academy, Academia de Música de Castelo de Paiva provided my first connection with music, and the warm encouragement of my father, a clarinet player and music teacher in the community, and of my mother, a nurse and music enthusiast, provided the nurturing environment for my musical aspirations.

My journey into music began with hesitant piano keystrokes at the age of six when my parents decided that the piano would be a good starting point. Though those early encounters with the piano didn't resonate within me, they laid the foundation for a musical exploration that would soon find its true compass.

I continued playing the piano, or rather, attending classes, until the age of 13. I struggled with playing the piano, and I didn't enjoy it. Practicing wasn't something I liked to do. Then, I stumbled upon the magnetic sound of the French horn, forever altering the course of my musical destiny. The enchantment began during a school concert where the wind orchestra performed. The sound of the French horns resonated so deeply with me that I felt a peculiar sensation. I wondered why this happened; I had never felt this way before.📯

Immediately, I started searching for more of this captivating sound. I delved into every movie soundtrack where I could listen to the horns, craving the enchantment they brought. I vividly remember listening repeatedly to 'The Mask of Zorro' by James Horner on a small mini-disc player. I'm not sure how I got a mini-disc with that soundtrack, but somehow someone gave it to my father, and I fell in love with it.

Then came the tipping point. My parents purchased tickets to a memorable concert in Lisbon at Coliseu dos Recreios, where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of maestro Daniel Barenboim, enchanted the audience with Mahler's 5th Symphony. The tickets, secured despite the sold-out event, placed us high in the hall, and I could barely see the shoes of the first horn player on the stage. Those shoes belonged to Dale Clevenger. If the name is unfamiliar to you, I strongly encourage you to look it up. Though unseen, the resounding notes of the horn section reached my ears with crystal clarity.

With all these inspirations and a growing yearning for the enchanting horn sound, the desire to become a horn player myself became increasingly clear in my mind. I longed to master the instrument and produce that captivating sound with my own hands (or lips).

Driven by my newfound passion, I took matters into my own hands. I initiated conversations with the horn teacher at the academy where I was learning piano, as well as with some fellow horn students, expressing my eagerness to learn how to play the horn. Remarkably, within a matter of days, I found myself with a borrowed and somewhat beaten-up single F horn, ready to embark on my journey.

Then it was time to speak to my father about my intent. I distinctly recall that ride home; my father was driving, and I was in the back seat. I mustered the courage and said, "Dad, I want to play the French Horn. I don't want to play the piano anymore. I already found a borrowed horn, so we don't have to purchase one. May I?" He reacted with surprise, but within seconds, he agreed.

And so began my journey in the French horn.

Does my beggining resonate with your own musical journey? Can you connect with my experience of discovering the enchanting world of the French horn? Share your thoughts!

This blog is not just a documentation of musical notes; it's an invitation to share in the highs, the lows, and the amusing misadventures that shape a musician's path. I invite you to join me.

With gratitude for your company, I will see you in the next chapter,