Anton Biography
Horner
Biography
Anton Horner founded a distinctively American style of horn playing, and his impact is
still with us today. He is credited with having introduced the double horn in the US and
having introduced the use of an assistant first horn. He is quoted as saying, "God made
some people Horn players; others are not so fortunate."
Horner was born in Austria in 1877; in 1885 he immigrated with his family to the US and
settled in Philadelphia. His father was a violinist, and Horner studied violin with him from
age 8 to 13. After his father died in 1890, the family returned to Austria. In 1891 he
entered the Leipzig Conservatory as a violin student. At the insistence of his great
uncle, Josef Semmler, a hornist and music teacher, he took on the horn as his second
instrument, studying with Friedrich Gumpert. After a year, he made horn his primary
instrument.
Horner returned to Philadelphia upon graduation in 1894 and worked in the Walnut
Street Theater and various other jobs. In 1899 Victor Herbert appointed him first horn of
the Pittsburgh Orchestra. In the 1900 summer season he played on a European tour
with Pittsburgh, and in 1901 as first horn of the Sousa Band. In 1901 he was joined by
his brother, Joseph (1882-1944), who had played the previous season as the original
second horn of the new Philadelphia Orchestra.
Horner auditioned for the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1902 and was appointed first horn
by Fritz Scheel. He was joined again by his brother, who remained second horn until his
retirement in 1938. Horner appeared as soloist with the orchestra a number of times; his
last solo appearance was in 1928 in the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante. During his years
with the Philadelphia Orchestra, he also played with a number of other chamber groups
and orchestras, including the Bethlehem Bach Festival and the Baltimore Symphony's
first series of concerts. Horner shared first horn duties during the 1929-30 season, and
the following season moved to third horn, where he remained until his retirement in
1946.
Horner taught at the Curtis Institute of Music from its founding in 1924 until 1942, and
his students (James Chambers, Marc Fischer, Mason Jones, Arthur and Harry Berv,
and many others) have performed in orchestras worldwide. In the first years, the faculty
played the principal parts in the school orchestra, so students heard and watched their
teachers. Horner had his students stand in their lessons to aid breathing. He would sing
rather than play to demonstrate, saving his embouchure for evening concerts.
While still at the Pittsburgh Symphony, Horner saw an advertisement for the Kruspe
double horn and ordered one, beginning a long association with Kruspe. This first
instrument was the Gumpert model double (designed by Edmund Gumpert, Friedrich's
nephew). Starting in 1902, Horner had horns built to his specifications (the Horner
Model), which he imported and sold until World War II. This design was copied by
several other makers, the most notable being the Conn 8D.
Horner's major publication (still available today) is Primary Studies for the French Horn.
Horner was an original member of the IHS, and was elected an Honorary Member in
1971. A tribute appears in the May 1972 issue of The Horn Call and a reminiscence by
one of his students in the April 1990 issue.
From:
International Horn Society
Honorary Life Members and
Celebrated Horn Players of the
Past
