My current composition has a fortissimo four-horn chord three measures in and it’s the first time the horns play. The top note is concert pitch C# (C#5)–an octave and a semitone above middle C.
That’s definitely in horn range but Dorico shows it red–out of range. Would it be difficult for most hornists to hit that cold at ff?
I could give that note (or the top two notes to trumpets), but I’d really like the horns to play it.
Since this section of the piece is atonal, I could transpose the chord down a full step, but it would change the effect I’m going for. (Long story why.)
Is the C# bright red or dark red? Dark red is a caution for less than optimal players while bright red is a more serious warning even for more able performers. Of course there are virtuosi who can coax amazing things out of their instruments.
In Vienna (VSL), you can see the range on the keyboard in the VST and it’s usually reliable for non-virtuosos, but I feel more confident hearing it from you.
@konradh For what it’s worth, Konrad, I played second horn in the Pomona Concert Band for 12 years (strictly amateur) and that concert C#5 is not at all difficult, especially on a double horn using the B-flat side, where the tubing is shorter and the overtones are further apart than they are on the F side. But it definitely is getting close to the upper limit for most amateur players.
