The French Horn and Choro: An Analysis of Data and Performance Possibilities
French horn. Choro. Musical Performance.
The present study investigates the inclusion of the French horn in Brazilian popular music, specifically focusing on the choro genre, aiming to analyze historical data and suggest performative and technical-interpretative methodological possibilities. The central problem lies in the historical association of the horn with concert music and its limited role in choro, a genre traditionally characterized by the performance of other wind instruments. The general objective is to identify technical-interpretative issues and propose methodological paths for the horn player's preparation within this musical universe. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative approach of a descriptive nature, structured in two fronts: a bibliographic review and semi-structured interviews with brass musicians specialized in choro. The in-depth analysis of the specific bibliography allowed for contextualizing the history of choro from the perspective of brass instruments, cataloging works for the horn, and identifying crucial interpretative issues for performance in choro, while the semi-structured interviews with established musicians in the genre provided valuable empirical data. The experience and knowledge of these professionals were fundamental to understanding the characteristics and challenges of musical performance in this genre, especially regarding the interpretative differences compared to concert music, considering the latter as the horn player's primary field of activity. In view of this, the research offers practical suggestions for interpretation and repertoire, seeking to consolidate the horn as a legitimate solo instrument in Brazilian popular music and to expand the professional and artistic boundaries of the horn player.