I'm looking for recordings of great horn players. I met a guy who told me that I should have some if I expect to go very far with my horn playing because it would give me a better sense of what a horn sounds like when played by a pro. If anyone knows of any I might be able to buy or download from the internet I'd be rather grateful for the info.

Thanks!

You should get a good idea of what horns have sounded like and what they sound like now.
You should have a couple of recordings of Dennis Brain and Barry Tuckwell; for old hand horn playing you should have some Herman Bauman. Start there.

You should get some recordings of good symphonies. Solo horn work is different than orchestral horn work. Dennis Brain and Barry Tuckwell are solo horn players and their sounds are not meant for orchestra. Listen to thehorn sections of New York Phil, Chicago, San Francisco Symphony. These are big Horns sounds. For lighter more assertive horn playing listen to Cincinnati, Philadelphia, London Symphony Orchestra.

Boston Symphony is good sounding brass section.

I agree with John. Also for big sound try the vienna horns I got a CD of them and love it (even if they play on a special horn...).

The Vienna Horn is agreat idea to listen to. The Horns are considered special but not as weird as you might think. As far as listening goes here is where you find great horn players playing on single F horns, and getting remarkably nice full sounds.

Although scientifically not accurate I look at these as the change over from the Hand horn to our modern double horn. The horn bore is only slightly larger than the hand horn and definitely smaller than our modern double horn. The valve system is pumpenvalve (sp?). When you engage your valve lever the plunger type valve pulls open the slide tubing. More closely related to the piston valve. It allows a softer, gentler change which is very handy for legato playing.

Actually almost all the instruments in the Vienna PHil are special or unique. Except the strings which aren't special per se, but are all owner by the orchestra and are specifically chosen to blend with the other strings.

And speaking of Piston valves. Many think horns only ever came with rotary vavles. Rotary valves are rather recent developments. Dennis Brain played on a piston valve horn for many many years.

Now before you purchase any Vienna Horn CD's you should know that there are no women in the Vienna Philharmonic except the Harpist and they only allowed her to join in 1997. They believe the great music has been written by men and therefore can onyl be interpreted properly by men. Also, since they are all men it is easier to play together. With women in the orchestra there would be confusion in interpretations and sound blending.