The horn comes in different forms in Foix: first day of the international competition and activities around the instrument

Appearance in front of the jury and the public for juniors

This May 9, the first day of the competition, the junior category eliminatory event was held at Estive. The young people performed two compulsory works for ten minutes, including a creation for the competition. Two were eliminated, but it was still good training according to them. “I don’t take it badly. It motivates me to work harder for next time,” says Younes.

“In our professional life, everything involves competitions, this puts us in good condition,” explain his colleagues. “We’re in a competition, but it’s more of a gathering,” adds Mona. This May 10, it’s time for cadets, juniors and youngest.

Stroll through the city to the sounds of horns

A historical and musical walk was offered in the historic center. All that was left to do was follow the guide who stopped in the squares to listen to the sounds of the different horns. At the castle, there was the alphorn, then melodies with the traditional instrument at Place Saint-Volusien.

In the park, the bell ringers of the Échos de l’Estrique took over, while on the Place du 8-Mai the jazz music of the Orion octet resonated, for a finale with A big band is born on the square in front of the ‘agglomeration.

The Alphorn, shared know-how at Les Forges

The instrument maker had arrived at the Forges de Pyrène in the morning. This professional who creates alphorns for Résonance bois, in Lyon, explained the different steps necessary to create such an instrument, with more than surprising dimensions.

He also discussed the types of gasoline used. Then, the musician made the audience hear the different sounds produced by an Alps horn, and showed how one blows into it to create sound.

For the record, this instrument was “used by shepherds to communicate from valley to valley in the 19th century, it was the mobile telephone of that time. Its sound could carry up to 8 km,” says Aerocors.

When the organs play in unison

A prestigious concert, combining traditional horns, alphorns and organs, was held at the Saint-Volusien abbey in the evening. The bellringers of the Échos de l’Estrique (photo) sounded their hunting horns.

Jacques Deleplanque, professor in Paris and Lausanne, performed on a piece by François Poulenc, alternating horn and organ solos, then uniting their music.

Other musicians followed. The public was able to see that the horn could be crystalline and elegant.