WVU School of Music HORN applicants may find audition requirements below.
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies degrees:
Two contrasting musical selections, i.e., one fast and/or technical in nature and
one slow and lyrical. The music should highlight the applicant’s current playing
abilities and musical strengths. Possible choices could include, but are not
limited to, the following repertoire:
- Solo Works:
- W. A. Mozart - Concerto No. 2, 3, or 4
- Richard Strauss - Concerto No. 1, Op. 11
- Franz Strauss - Nocturno, Op. 7 or Concerto, Op. 8
- L. van Beethoven - Sonata for Horn and Piano
- Paul Dukas - Villanelle
- C. Saint-Saëns - Morceau de Concert
- Etudes demonstrating fundamental skills, e.g., articulation, left-hand technique,
slurs, phrasing, et cetera.
- Kopprasch - Sixty Selected Studies, Book 1
- Maxime-Alphonse - Deux cents études nouvelles, Books 2 - 4
- Kling - 40 Characteristic Etudes for Horn
- Pottag & Andraud - 335 Selected Melodious Progressive and Technical Studies for French Horn
- Max Pottag - Preparatory Melodies to Solo Work for French Horn
- Standard orchestral audition excerpts (See “Additional Requirements” below for examples)
- Challenging sections or prominent solos from recently performed concert band literature
Additional Requirements for Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance
In addition to the above, applicants for the BM in Horn Performance should prepare three excerpts selected from the standard orchestral literature that demonstrate a wide range of skills on the instrument. Excerpts could be chosen from, but are not limited to, the following:
- Beethoven - Symphony No. 3, Movement III, Trio, mm. 171 - 205 (Horn 2)
- Beethoven - Symphony No. 9, Movement IV, mm. 82 - 100 (Horn 4)
- Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “Nocturne”, m. 1 through Rehearsal A (Horn 1)
- Mendelssohn - Symphony No. 3, Movement II, mm. 48 - 67 (Horn 3)
- Ravel - Pavane pour une infante défunte, mm. 1 - 11 (Horn 1)
- Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5, Movement I, Rehearsal 17 - 21 (Horn 1)
- Strauss - Till Eulenspiegel, mm. 6 - 20 (Horn 1)
- Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5, Movement II, mm. 8 - 28 (Horn 1)
- Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5, Movement II, mm. 8 - 28 (Horn 1)
Graduate
Performance (MM)
Applicants for a Master of Music in Horn Performance should prepare the following repertoire:Etude and Solo Repertoire (all of the following)
- Applicants choice of Mozart’s Concerto No. 2, K. 417 or Concerto No. 4, K. 495, first movement
- A lyrical solo composition of the applicant’s choosing
- An etude from Kling’s 40 Studies (a.k.a 40 Characteristic Etudes) or Gallay’s 12 Etudes for Second Horn, Op. 57
- An unmeasured prelude from Gallay’s 40 Preludes, Op. 27 (Nos. 21 - 40)
Orchestral Excerpts
Applicants should be prepared to present several orchestral excerpts from the standard audition repertoire. The selections should demonstrate the applicant’s strengths and a variety in range, style, and compositional period. Excerpts could include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, Movement IV, Trio, no repeats (Horn 1)
- Beethoven - Symphony No. 3, Movement III, Trio, mm. 171 - 205 (Horn 2)
- Beethoven - Symphony No. 9, Movement IV, mm. 82 - 100 (Horn 4)
- Brahms - Symphony No. 3, Movement III, mm. 98 - 110 (Horn 1)
- Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “Nocturne”, m. 1 through Rehearsal A (Horn 1)
- Mendelssohn - Symphony No. 3, Movement II, mm. 48 - 67 (Horn 3)
- Ravel - Pavane pour une infante défunte, mm. 1 - 11 (Horn 1)
- Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5, Movement I, Rehearsal 17 - 21 (Horn 1)
- Strauss - Till Eulenspiegel, mm. 6 - 20 (Horn 1)
- Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5, Movement II, mm. 8 - 28 (Horn 1)
- Wagner - Götterdämmerung, “Siegfried’s Rhine Journey,” Short Call (Horn 1)
Applicants for non-performance Master of Music programs who would like to join the horn studio and horn ensemble should prepare all of the following:
- Two contrasting selections from recital repertoire and/or advanced etudes
- Applicant’s choice of the first movement from Mozart’s Concerto Nos. 2, 3, or 4 -OR- Richard Strauss’ Concerto No. 1 (with cadenza, if applicable)
- Three orchestral excerpts from the standard audition repertoire (see above)
Performance (DMA)
All applicants for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Horn Performance should be prepared to present the following for consideration by the audition committee:
- Major concerto repertoire
- Advanced recital repertoire
- Advanced etudes
- Orchestral excerpts
- Examples of teaching
- Examples of formal writing