William VerMeulen | About the Piece: "Maynard"

William VerMeulen "Maynard" is a contemporary French horn piece that is both ferociously difficult and dramatically expressive. It was composed with the intention of testing a horn player's limits, from rapid arpeggios and leaps between notes to demanding passages that require extraordinary breath control. Unlike more traditional horn concertos or classical compositions, "Maynard" reflects a modern and perhaps even rebellious approach to horn writing, exploring new soundscapes and unconventional techniques.

 

The piece is inspired by the legendary jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, whose career was marked by his blazing, high-energy performances. Ferguson was known for his ability to hit incredibly high notes and maintain powerful dynamics, a feat that inspired the composer of this horn piece to create something equally thrilling and difficult on the French horn. “Maynard” incorporates some of the same fire and audacity that Ferguson brought to the trumpet, pushing the French horn to its limits both in range and speed.

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