SYNCHRON-ized Natural Horns

The natural horn is the predecessor to the modern French Horn and has neither finger holes nor valves. As a result, only natural tones according to the harmonic series can be produced by adjusting the embouchure and changing lip-tension. What’s more, the technique of stopping – the left hand is inserted in various depths and angles into the bell – allows for fine tuning the off-pitch tones and even producing chromatic notes that are not part of the harmonic series. In order to play (harmonic) scales in differing keys, various tuning slides have to be used. Early composers had to provide sufficient time for changing and inserting various tuning slides into the instruments when scales and keys changed in the music. So by the end of the 19th century, as music became increasingly chromatic, the natural horn was replaced by more advanced valved instruments. The natural horn imposes considerable demands on the player, especially when compared to the modern French horn, but the extra effort is rewarded by a unique and particularly noble sound. As a user of this virtual instrument, you’ll reap the benefits of the natural horn’s confident tone, without having to worry about the challenges of performance.

This Historic Winds Pack includes a natural horn with ten different tuning slides (Bb basso, Bb alto, C basso, C alto, D, Eb, E, F, G, A) for utmost flexibility. The soloist Marcus Schmidinger performed all of the horn instruments in Vienna’s VI Brass I and II Collections and also contributed to the Dimension Brass series. Apart from basic articulations and Performance Legatos this Collection also provides crescendos and diminuendos with different durations, fast repetitions, and flutter tonguing.

The Synchron Player’s integrated convolution reverb adds the outstanding ambience of the 540 m² (5,813 sq.ft.) main hall of Synchron Stage Vienna to the dry samples in real-time. Expertly crafted mixer presets place the instrument at its perfect spot on stage, resulting in a production-ready sound “out of the box” that blends seamlessly with the instruments of SYNCHRON-ized Woodwinds as well as with every other product in the Synchron Series.