One of my "mature" horn friendsm who's still performing really tough literature, shared a little of his experience with the late, great John Barrows. It's kinda long for a blog post, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.
No. I have never met John Barrows. He lived around the corner and in retrospect I probably heard him play while visiting my aunts.
I have loved the french horn since before I knew what it was apparently.
What is funny is that I run into a couple of horn players who studied with Mr. Barrows. And when I know they studied with him I change the way I play with them and it's amazing the the way we blend when I play in his style and his pedagogy.
I read your article/blig and I did not know that Dave S. ever studied with John; but now more things make sense. I haven't yet played with Dave S. But certainly hope to in the future.
The Kensington area of San Diego is and was an amzing area. Lots of little treasures in the neighborhood. Very artistic over the years but not like many 'artictic' communities. The houses look normal in an old craftsman style. A very quiet neighborhood. But everyone I have met through the years has a deep seeded passion and a secret life of beautiful art. Kind of like a Brigadoon of art; you just don't know that it's there.
