Kerry's blog

Our Musical Footprint Around the World

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:43:52 +0100

In my cellar, where I have set up my own personal work-out gym, there hangs a large map of the world. On this map, Kristina and I have placed colored pins on the cities around the world where we have performed. I am not sure why we originally took the initiative to do such a thing, but there it is. And as I was working out today, I thought it might be interesting to make a list of the many countries in which the two of us have performed with our various ensembles.

Kerry- either with the American Horn Quartet, the Luxembourg Philharmonic or the Virtuoso Horn Duo:

Australia
Austria
Belgium

Virtuoso Horn Duo in China

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:22:00 +0100

It has taken me some time to get around to it, but I am finally free from other
obligations enough to write a little bit about the trip to Beijing that Kristina and I
recently underwent. The occasion was the 2nd Beijing Horn Festival, organized by
Professor Han Xiao Ming. The venue was the Beijing National Conservatory, and the event
took place the first week of October, right in the middle of the largest folk festival in
China, something they call "The Golden Days". Because of this huge and very popular
festival, there were hundreds of thousands of people from all over China visiting

Virtuoso Horn Duo in Concert in Poland

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:22:29 +0100

This picture shows Kristina and me rehearsing my "Twas a Dark and Stormy Night" with the Lower Silesian Philharmonic in Jelenia Gora, Poland, under the direction of Dariusz Wisniewski.
Many of you may have never heard of Jelenia Gora. And if I told you that it is called Hirschberg or Deer Mountain in German and English, that probably wouldn`t help you much. The fact is, it is a small and quite delightful little city in western Poland, only about a 45-minute drive from the German border. And it was here that Kristina Mascher and I traveled to perform with the Lower Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra with Mr. Dariusz Wisniewski conducting. On the program for us to perform were the Haydn Concerto for 2 Horns in Eb as well as my own "Twas a Dark and Storm Night", 2 works which we had recorded with Mr. Wisniewski in Cracow a couple of years ago (CD- Virtuoso Horn Duo, works by Haydn, Rosetti, Vivaldi and Turner, MSR Classics MS 1181).

Weimar- A Long Journey Pays Off

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:52:51 +0200

I have just returned from an very long and difficult journey. I was on the road with the Luxembourg Philharmonic, whose run-out concerts to other countries and cites is usually carried out in style. This particular run-out however looked a bit dodgy even from the outset. First of all, it`s a long long way to Weimar from Luxembourg, some 550 kilometers. Second of all, we were suppose to take the bus! Whereas we almost alway fly to cites that far away, the administration had decided, for some reason, that we should take the bus. The third oddity about my particular situation in this scenario was that I was booked to play only on the Berlioz "Harold in Italy".

Internedii and Viols sing Mass by Byrd

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:42:35 +0200

Yesterday evening (August 30, 2008), in the small Luxembourgisch townn of Bettange-sur-Mess, five members of the vocal ensemble "Intermedii" interpreted the very soulful and historically interesting Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei from the Mass for Five Voices by William Byrd. They were accompanied by 5 Viol players- the Melusina Consort- who lent the performance a beautiful authenticity. The singing of the work was properly integrated into the mass itself there at the Catholic Church in Bettange.

The following morning, the two groups moved chairs and stands to the Anglican Church of Luxembourg, where we wove the five movements into the 11:00 o`clock service.

AHQ Perform at the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:30:45 +0200

The members of the horn jury along with the AHQ and significant others enjoying a Korean feast in JejuIt was certainly an interesting place to hold a brass festival and an international competition. If you are not sure where the devil Jeju Island is, don`t feel bad. Most of us had never heard of it either, until recently that is. In fact, Jeju is a special self-governing province of South Korea, and indeed, that is how it is officially called. Apparently, this was the 13th such brass festival to have taken place here. Not only were bands from around the globe invited to perform at the various concert venues around the island, but several prestigious brass ensembles as well, including the American Horn Quartet. And that is how I wound up spending over a week on this obscure little island, playing horn quartets to clapping audiences. Oh, there was also an international competition going on at the same time. The categories were for trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba and brass quintet. I have to say, the standard was pretty high. Those most curious lads of the AHQ along with my eccentric self were designated jurors for the horn competition. Please go to the website of the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival (www.jiwef.org) to learn more about it as well as to read about the winners of the competition.

Just Passing Through...

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:24:36 +0200

Well, here I am, back home in Luxembourg. It has been kind of a hectic tour. I left for Amsterdam on July 9th where Kristina and I performed with the Luxembourg Philharmonic in one of Europe's most famous concert halls, the Concertgebouw. Immediately following these 2 concerts, we boarded a plane for New York, where we spent a week or so on vacation. The IHS International Horn Symposium in Denver, Colorado was the next port of call. The AHQ was to perform my own "Introduction and Main Event" for 4 horns and concert band with the Hong Kong Academy Wind Ensemble.The AHQ performed my "Introduction and Main Event" with the Hong Kong Academy Wind Ensemble at the IHS symposium in Denver, conducted by Joe Kirtley. This concert went off splendidly and we all continued on to Daytona Beach, Florida for the 2nd Annual AHQ Horn Camp. Although the turn-out was a bit on the small side, it was nevertheless a very enjoyable week and we played with and taught some fine highschool and college age horn players (and one or two more mature ones as well). Popping back up to New York, we hung out three more days where we met up with Heather and Leon Ni (of the "Ni Ensemble") in China Town, and attended a thrilling performance of the Hubbard Street Dance Company at the Joyce Theater. This is an absolutely inspiring and world class modern dance troop.

September: VHD to perform in Poland and China

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:31:39 +0200

The Virtuoso Horn Duo (Kristina Mascher and Kerry Turner) will be performing several concerts in Poland as well as performing and teaching at the Beijing Horn Festival. The former will be from September 24th- 29th, and the latter from September 30th - October 5th. On the agenda in Poland are the following concerts:

A recital with 2 horns and piano at a castle outside of Jelena Gorza, a performance of "Twas a Dark and Stormy Night" and the Haydn Concerto for Two Horns in Eb with the Filharmonia Dolnoslaska in Jelena Gorza, Dariusz Wisniewski conducting (www.filharmonia-dolnoslaska.art.pl/repertuar/2008/2009), and a masterclass and concert at the Chopin Academy in Warsaw.

Revival of the Perkins Concerto for Four Horns (AHQ)

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:16:04 +0200

There is a frenzy of AHQ activity on the horizon. I will soon be meeting up with those curious lads at the IHS International Horn Symposium in Denver. We will be performing my work for horn quartet and orchestra (version for wind band) entitled "Introduction and Main Event". The AHQ will be guest soloists with the Hong Kong Academy of Music Wind Symphony with Mr. Joe Kirtley conducting. Immediately following this event, we are all flying down to Daytona Beach for the 2nd Annual AHQ Summer Horn Workshop which will take place from July 28 to August 3rd (see www.hornquartet.com for details). Then on August 11th, we once again board the plane and fly to South Korea and then on to Jeju Island for the Jeju Music Festival.

Two Hours of Hollywood Blockbusters!

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:01:02 +0200

It`s Sunday morning. I rolled out of bed to get a big cup of java and get ready for church, when I noticed something on my lip. Splashing hot water on my face, I came to realize that it was not so much something "on" my lip, but rather something "wrong" with my lip. It appeared to be sticking straight up. And it was stiff as an over-starched shirt. Just behind these nasty feeling and not much better looking lips lurked a few aching teeth. Did I go a few rounds with Mike Tyson last night or what?

Then I remembered. Last night was the "Fete de la Musique" (Festival of Music) in the city of Luxembourg. And my colleagues in the Luxembourg Philharmonic and I had been booked to excitedly interpret (read: blast through) 2 solid hours of soundtracks from Hollywood blockbuster movies. Gast Waltzing was at the helm, and we had been granted three rehearsals for this hyperactive concert which was to be performed outdoors on the Place Guillaume. Each instrument received it`s own microphone in order to further amplify the bombastic spectacle. On the program were some of the most famous horn pieces from the recent movie soundtrack repertoire:

"Grail Symphony" completed (English/Deutsch)

Thu, 29 May 2008 08:16:05 +0200

I just wanted to make it known that I finished my symphony today. It has been a huge endeavor that has taken me 2 years to complete. It is called "The Grail Symphony" and has the traditional 4 movements:
1. The Sword of St. Michael
2. The Tears of Charlemagne
3. Candles in the Darkness
4. Knight of Pentacles

It is by far the most complex thing I have ever written. The next incredibly tedious part of the project involves setting it onto computer, proofreading the score and organizing a CD-recording of the work.

Stay tuned!

Ich wollte nur mitteilen, dass ich heute, meine Sinfonie, fertig geschrieben habe. Es ist eine riesige Unternehmung gewesen, die über 2 Jahre gedauert hat. Es trägt den Titel "Sinfonie des Heiligen Graals" und beträgt, traditionsgemäss, 4 Sätze:

REMINDER: The 2nd AHQ Workshop in Daytona Beach (English-Deutsch)

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:40:59 +0200

I would like to remind horn players around the world about the Second American Horn Quartet Workshop in Daytona Beach, Florida. Last year's event was highly successful, and I like to think that the participants went away feeling inspired. The dates are July 28 through August 3rd and the cost is around 800 US Dollars. Please check out the write-up about it on the AHQ website (www.hornquartet.com).

NOTE: There is now a reduction offered to anyone who signs up and brings a friend. Contact Heather Johnson at hephorn@yahoo.com.

Ich möchte Hornisten weltweit darauf aufmerksam machen, dass das "Second American Horn Quartet Workshop in Daytona Beach, Florida", vom 28 Juli bis 3 August, stattfinden wird. Letztes Jahr war das Workshop ein grosser Erfolg, und ich möchte meinen, dass die Teilnehmer, am Ende der Woche, ganz begeistert waren. Die Woche kostet so ungefähr 500 euro. Interessierten werden darum gebeten, das Website vom AHQ anzuschauen und den Anhang darüber zu lesen.

A Depressing Comparison (OPL Concert with the New York Voices)

Sat, 10 May 2008 16:41:13 +0200

This past Thursday evening, May 8th, I had the pleasure of hearing the jazz vocal quartet called New York Voices. As a matter of fact, I was in the orchestra for this concert, and I must say, due to a pretty heavy first horn part, I was more than usually preoccupied with my own part in the production. I did however find time to ponder an interesting point. You see, the New York Voices are in every way a brilliantly professional, well organized, sophisticated ensemble. The arrangements of their a cappella vocal repertoire are superb to say the least. And the way I understand it (from the conductor of this particular program, Mr. Gast Waltzing), when asked what they could possibly do with orchestra, they offered us, the OPL, a plethora of songs for vocal quartet, their own combo and symphony orchestra. So their repertoire for this genre is quite on the cutting edge as well. I was informed by a friend who knew them well, that they had just come from Germany, where they had sung a concert of totally different songs accompanied only by their combo. And the day after our gig with them, they were off to perform with the well-known WDR Big Band in Cologne, presenting once again, a totally different program.

Virtuoso Horn Duo CD selling well!

Sun, 04 May 2008 10:02:39 +0200

The other day we received an e-mail from Mr. Robert LaPorta at MSR Classics, our CD label in the States. He informed us that he was just about out of the Virtuoso Horn Duo CD (MS 1181). Luckily we still had a few in storage and so had them sent post haste to MSR. It gave us all cause to consider the possibility of a reprint on this album. The CD features myself and Kristina Mascher performing works for 2 horns and orchestra by Vivaldi, Haydn, Rosetti and your's truly ("Twas a Dark and Stormy Night). The recording has received rave reviews and has sold very well, particularly during the VHD and Friends Autumn Tour last year.

Notes on the "Concerto for Low Horn"

Thu, 01 May 2008 13:55:46 +0200

There has been some considerable interest lately in my "Concerto for Low Horn and Orchestra". Interestingly enough, I am presently in the process of organizing a CD recording of the work; it along with the "Introduction and Main Event" for horn quartet and orchestra, the "Concerto for Tuba" and the orchestral tone poem "Karankawa". This project has booked for January 2009.

Mostly the questions have been about various performances of the piece with the piano reduction. As a matter of fact, over the past year, I have coached many students on the "Concerto for Low Horn". And every time I have to alert them to the two major misprints in the horn part. I also have a few tips for the pianist. So I have therefore decided to list the misprints and suggestions on this blog as follows: