A Fantasy on Melodies from the Old West for Horn Quartet or Horn Choir (2022)

Written for Dr. Jennifer Sholtis and the final concert of the 54th International Horn Symposium held at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Texas in August of 2022, these old west melodies are On the Trail of the Buffalo-also known as Buffalo Skinners; The Streets of Laredo, Whoopee Ti Yi Yo, Git Along Little Dogies; and Home on the Range. These are all traditional songs that date from the 19th century history of cowboys in the Old West. The original sources of these songs are as varied, diverse, and large as the people and the prairies of The Old West. The stories and lyrics of these songs are found in the works of a number of authors-the earliest large collection is found in the book dating from 1910 by John Lomax: Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads (published by the MacMillan Company). This Fantasy may be performed by either a Horn Quartet or a Horn Choir. When performed by a Horn Choir, both of the divisi voices in Horn I Measures 107-127 should be played. Also, Horn Choir performances should divide the Fourth Horn parts between parts IVA and IVB. Horn Quartets should use parts I, II, III, and IVA.