This question has been on my mind for quite awhile now. I have been in concert band and marching band and this question was always up for debate. What does the French horn classify as: Brass or Woodwind?
Fun Fact: The french horn is indeed a brass instrument. Although, others my say otherwise. The french horn is made of brass material and sits in the brass section. However, it's sound and structure are very unique. They really act as the bridge between Brass and Woodwinds. Their sound can be as soft and brittle as woodwinds and as powerful as a trumpet. That all depends on the player, really.
The modern French Horn contains two layers of tubes and a valve to switch between them. The "B flat" tube and the "F" tube. (Don't google that;) These tubes are different in length and help shape their unique sounds. The F tube is 12 feet long when all stretched out whereas the B flat tube is 8 feet long.
Even before the modern French horn, the horn was a tough one to play. It seems only the skilled can play this instrument. Before valves were invented, the horn couldn't be played chromatically. In fact, there was only a handful of pitches that could be achieved with the horn. This all changed when players used their hands to manipulate the pitch of the horn and players could have a wider selection of pitches to hit.
Are you interested in the French horn?
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Interested in the Marching French Horn? Check it out.
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