The Four Horn Seasons

Before it became a concert instrument, it was a signaling tool. First – a hollow shell or animal horn, later – a long, spirally twisted metal instrument used for giving signals: during hunts, in battle, in rituals. Over time, the horn entered the orchestra as an instrument with a powerful, slightly matte sound that could be as soft as an echo but also as loud as a siren. Today, it is often called the "waltornia" – the modern Polish name for the horn. It sounds proud, but it refers to the same instrument.

For a long time, the horn could produce only a few specific notes – those that naturally result from the length of its tube. Only in the 19th century were special valves added, allowing the air path to be prolonged and all the necessary notes to be played. From then on, the horn could play not only signals but also melodies.

In orchestras, the horn was often a background – a color added to strings and woodwinds – but in the 20th century, composers began to notice its uniqueness: a deep, slightly nasal tone, the ability to play very softly and very loudly, and even use it like a percussion instrument (by striking its body or blowing without sound). They began writing not only orchestral parts but also solo and ensemble music for it.

This concert is a rarity: four horns on one stage, performing works exclusively by 20th-century Polish composers. Pieces by Kotoński, Rybicki, Przybylski, and Szostak will be heard, as well as an arrangement of Serocki's suite. It is a diverse range of music, from rhythmic and classical to experimental and surprising. The horn – warm, round, spacious – draws you into its world from the first sound. This evening is not just an opportunity to hear the instrument, but to truly get to know it.

Quartettino for four horns by Kotoński performed by  Hornet Quartet: