A Devil to Play One Mans Year - Long Quest to Master the Orchestras Most Difficult Instrument - 2008 publication

by Jasper Rees

Most people who take up a musical instrument have dropped it by the time they leave school. With the onset of maturity they start to regret giving it up. But still they do nothing about it. At the age of 39 and three quarters, Jasper Rees did do something about it. He fished his French horn out of the attic, where it had lain silent for 22 years, and took it to the instrument's annual the British Horn Society festival. Along with 69 other horn players, he stood onstage and played Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. There and then, despite severely limited ability, he set himself a near impossible to stand up in front of a paying audience in twelve months' time and play a Mozart concerto. Alone. 'I Found My Horn' is the story of a midlife crisis spent not on a Harley Davidson but on 18 feet of wrapped brass tubing. It is also the story of man's first musical instrument, and its journey from the walls of Jericho to Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, from the hunting fields of aristocratic France to the heart of Hollywood. Along the way, Jasper Rees seeks expert advice as he prepares to stand up in front of a packed London auditorium and perform a Mozart concerto on this notoriously treacherous instrument. Everyone says the same thing. Don't do it.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, Humor, British Literature

Unknown Binding

First published January 3, 2008

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zm2ny

Description: In the days before his fortieth birthday, London-based journalist Jasper Rees trades his pen for a French horn that has been gathering dust in the attic for more than twenty-two years, and, on a lark, plays it at the annual festival of the British Horn Society.

Despite an embarrassingly poor performance, the experience inspires Rees to embark on a daunting, bizarre, and ultimately winning journey: to return to the festival in one year's time and play a Mozart concerto—solo—to a large paying audience.

1/5: The author and journalist embarks on 'One Man's Struggle with the Orchestra's Most Difficult Instrument.' Read by Nicholas Boulton.

2/5: The scale of the ambition dawns on him

3/5: to America.

4/5: school days and a disasterous performance

5/5: the big performance

Rees seems to prefer looking backwards, rediscovering his Welsh roots, and revisiting his school day horn lessons.

2.5* Bred of Heaven: One man's quest to reclaim his Welsh roots
2.5* A Devil to Play

[Eric_W]

This represents the dream of most of our Walter Mitty selves. I was in my mid-thirties when my son took up the trombone in school and, wanting to help him out, started French Horn lessons at the college where I worked. 20 years later he had long given up the trombone and I, after 15 years, gave up the French Horn, tiring (lazy, I guess) of the requirement to play every single day for 45 minutes to an hour just to maintain some flexibility in the lips. Skipping a couple days would set you back a week. I guess I also tired of being mediocre. I was what most would consider competent, good enough to play with local orchestras, but to get really good you have to practice hours daily. I did have the advantage of having played piano and organ for years so at least I didn't have to learn to read music. The worst part was transposing on the fly. I look forward to reading how Rees did. Got to admire his courage.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a super-fun and informative read! I have always loved the horn, but the author is obsessed. Jasper Rees learned French Horn when he was in early high school but gave it up for 22 years. He then pulled his dusty horn out to play at the British Horn Society concert. He really sucked. But he decided at the concert that he was going to take up the horn and play Mozart's 3rd horn concerto a year later at the same concert.
The book is funny, lighthearted, and it takes unexpected turns into the history of the horn. Questions about the horn are answered that I didn't even know were questions! Things like: how did the stigma of the horn come to be? Why is it called a "French" horn? What makes it such a difficult instrument? Who is the best horn player in the world? Who plays all those lamenting and heroic horn solos in Hollywood movies? Who played horn on all the Beatles records?
"A Devil to Play" will appeal to ANYONE - mostly because it's about someone who tried playing an instrument when they were young, put it down for 22 years, and made a commitment to pick it up again. Read it. It's really fun.

[Roisin Radford · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a horn player myself, this book obviously held a lot of appeal for me to begin with. But I didn't expect anything like the amount of fascinating history that is packed into it! Jasper Rees' style is perfect; he is personable and funny, and presents a large amount of information in a totally engaging and interesting way. Sections of history are interspersed with the story of his 'struggle' with the horn, in a skilfully seamless way which would appeal just as much, in my opinion, to someone with only a passing or amateur interest in the subject as to a professional.
I was lent this book by my horn teacher; I went out and bought it as soon as I had to give it back, and have re-read it since then. For anyone with an interest in music history, who would like a better approach than a dry history book, this is an excellent choice!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Jasper Rees decides to start playing the horn again at age 40 - 20+ years since he last touched it. He spends a year preparing for a solo performance at the British Horn Society. Along the way, he shares the history of the instrument and meets with current leading horn luminaries from around the world.

The result is a hilarious first-person account of someone facing their mid-life demons, interspersed with well-written and entertaining vignettes of the horn's history - including lots of Haydn, Mozart - and even the Beatles. I'm biased, of course, but think that even non-Horn players would find this an entertaining read. For Horn players? It's a must-read!

[Carmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book was very boring. It is about a man who plays French horn in school, then gives it up. 22 years later, inexplicably, he takes it up again. There is no apparent reason for this. For the rest of the book, he alternates between rambling on and on about very dull history of the French horn, and subjecting his poor, poor family and friends to numerous 'concerts' at which he butchers Mozart. There are a few charming things. One - he has a very good vocabulary. Two - he calls his girlfriend (he is divorced with two children) the New Person in My Life. Sometimes he just calls her New Person. I found it endearing. Three - he has a very good sense of humor. Some of his jokes were very funny. But those things cannot save the book. Unless you are VERY into the French horn, I doubt you would find this book the slightest bit appealing. It definitely does NOT appeal to mass audiences. His story of 'overcoming the odds' and 'turning an old foe into an old friend' CANNOT be applied to my life...in fact, I would venture to say it probably wouldn't apply to the majority of people's. Pages and pages of French horn history, French horn trivia, things about Mozart that relate to horns, and things about the Beatles pertaining to horns, and tons of information about famous horn players. Very dull. I would NOT recommend this book. I'm sure he enjoyed writing it, but I did not enjoy reading it.

[The Karina Chronicles · Rating 4 out of 5]

30/11/2021

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English

This book was incredible. I've hardly ever read a book that made me smile more than this one did. As a French Horn player this book was so recognizable and made me feel nostalgic in the best way possible. Before I read this I didn't know this was actually something I was looking for, but boy I was wrong. Seeing such a similar story as mine well written in a funny, but heartwarming novel, was exactly what I needed right now. The only reason I am not giving this 5 stars, is because I don't really think people that are not musicians or even not french horn players would get anything out of this. That would have even made it better, for me personally it was perfect.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dutch

Dit boek was fantastisch! Ik heb zelden een boek gelezen dat me zo aan het lachen maakte als deze. Als een hoornist was dit boek zo ontzettend herkenbaar en het maakte me nostalgisch op de best mogelijke manier. Voor ik dit ging lezen, wist ik niet dat dit iets was waar ik naar opzoek was, maar wat had ik het fout. Het lezen van een verhaal dat zo lijkt op mijn eigen verhaal geschreven op een grappige en hartverwarmende manier was precies wat ik nodig had. De enige reden dat ik dit niet 5 sterren geef, is omdat ik denk dat mensen die geen muzikant zijn of laat staan een hoornist niet zo veel uit dit boek zouden kunnen halen. Dat had het nog beter gemaakt, maar voor mij was het al perfect!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come to find out, I'm a sucker for books where people shake up their normal lives to dedicate a year to a crazy mission; this author actually verbalized why: he's in "those years when routine traditionally sets in like a stubborn winter fog, when you set yourself the monthly task of amassing enough money to pay for things you need rather than things you want, when horizons close in and clouds lower dully overhead, when pipe dreams of a second home in Tuscany - or, failing that, Wales - shrivel and wilt in the face of remorseless blasts from the blowtorch of life", and so am I, and it's inspiring to see someone fight against that. In this case, the author decides to pick up the French horn for a year and, at the end, perform in front of an audience of horn professionals and enthusiasts. I'm a former high-school musician myself, and former French horn players have a special place in my heart (my boyfriend being one of them), so I'm a pretty ideal audience for this book. And I loved it. It's both witty and touching.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
The author and journalist embarks on 'One Man's Struggle with the Orchestra's Most Difficult Instrument.' Read by Nicholas Boulton.

[Tate · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You never eyeball a horn player. That’s one of the real rules. You just don’t. They’re stuntmen. You don’t eyeball stuntmen when they’re about to dice with death.”
—Sir Simon Rattle

As is the case with the majority of the reviews for A Devil To Play, I too am a horn player.
I found Jasper Rees’ journey of picking the french horn up after a twenty two year absence—get ready for cheesy & overused insert—inspiring.
At 39, and against all odds, Jasper decides to pick up the french horn in an attempt to play a solo at the annual British Horn Society festival. What ensues is a year long quest of Farkas warmups, studious research into the history of the horn, a cross-continent expedition for private lessons and advice, numerous interviews with many of the heads of the world’s greatest horn sections, and most importantly: a triumph of will.
What I found inspiring is that against all odds Jasper went from zero to hero, with no one to light a fire under his ass but himself. He chose to undertake this journey on his shoulders and his shoulders alone.
What is contained in this book is not only some excellent prose, but the resurrection story of a horn player.

I, too, strive to be a little more like Jasper.

“From now on, when I go to the mirror in the small dark hours, I will be spared the accusing glare of an unfulfilled man.” (303)

[Kayla Tchaigothsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging approach to a noble journey. I think a lot can be learned by other older amateur musicians, but Jesus Christ the secondhand embarrassment of reading the recounts of his failed attempts is so bad. Would recommend.

[Darby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty overly wordy at times, but enjoyable non the less. I play the trombone, and while I haven't done any solos on it, I can certainly relate to all of Jaspers feelings of panic during his performances.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful for French horn players. Not sure if it would resonate (haha) nearly as much with anyone else, though. But it inspired me to get my horn out again and play a bit, which has been a joy.

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time connecting to this book and staying involved, which led to me setting it down for long periods between reading sessions. But overall, I appreciated all the tidbits about French horn that the author included and I did enjoy it while I was reading it.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and well-written with just enough humor, so as to make it fun to read. As a horn player, I learned a lot about horn history and some of the great players.

[Veronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did I wait this long to finish this amazing book?

[Maxwell Paulus · Rating 3 out of 5]

The language is a bit archaic regarding women at times, and often very technical regarding the horn. That being said overall a better read than anticipated.

[Alex Ankarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. So fun.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A suspense story: journalist and old Harrovian who played the horn in school then dropped it is seized by the desire at age 40 to resume it and master it so that he can play a solo with orchestra at a public concert to which people pay admission in one year from then. He settles on the Mozart K. 447
This is akin to taking up rock climbing at age 30 and planning to do a maor North Face in teh Alps inside a year.
The author comes across as good-humored, self-deprecating, humble but also pushy in seeking advice and moral support. He could not have done this without pushing. I had not known just how hard this instrument is to play; for example, much of the player reads has to be transposed at sight.
Weaknesses: I thought there was a bit too much of hunting horn history and too much about plumbing and drainage of the horn. 10% more on horn technique than I wanted. Un-necessary, mild ritual put-downs of all musicians who don't play the horn as slackers.
Strengths:Piercing insight into the sad fact that it's so darn much harder to make music with others than alone. Enjoyable musical history about Mozart. Good, suitably awed portrait of Dennis Brain, whose iconic recording of the four Mozart concertos was one of the first classical records I listened to over and over. I was hoping for a little story on the first (and I think only) Hoffnung Interplanetary Music Festival, which featured Brain playing a garden hose. Didn't get that one.
Nice vignettes of the many people who helped on the quest.

Anyone reconnecting to an instrument in adulthood or taking one up de novo then will enjoy this tale. I will shelve it under humor and also adventure non-fiction, though it's not adventure in the usual sense.

[Julianna Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

When journalist Jasper Rees decides to pick up the French horn after twenty-two years to play at the festival of the British Horn Society, he fails. That day he decides that the next year he would return to the festival to play a solo, embarking on a year-long journey to master the French Horn. Although, essentially a story of a man’s midlife crisis it is, at its core, one of perseverance and achievement.

Reese is hilarious. He makes jokes that only French Horn players would get but that anyone who has ever failed at something could appreciate. “There must be something about the Horn. You have to develop a sense of humor. Otherwise you will go and kill yourself.” He provides a lot of the history of the French Horn, the first writings of it, the first users of it, where it originated and how it has evolved. He goes into detail about the kinds of Horns, the most distinguished Horn pieces, and the most renowned Horn players. By doing this he manifests a respect in the reader, for the instrument, they might not have had before. Being that this a true story about perseverance, something that everyone has faced, it is very relatable making it all the more engaging. He writes of all he endured on his quest to master the Horn, about embarrassing circumstances where he failed, awkward situations where he didn’t know what to do, and humbling times where he had to ask for help.

This book might not be for you if you aren’t a musician but if you play the French Horn you need to read this, no question about it.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with Richard Cohen's "By the Sword" this weaves the history of the instrument around a personal story, to the benefit of "I found my horn" since it has considerably more story and less history; the combination is enjoyable and gives the author a great chance to show off his obsession and his hard work. Jasper's zeal is infectious, despite his background he manages diffidence and humility. The ending is all about him, but I think after his travails that he has earned it, he does have a book to pitch to publishers after all and he needs his big finish. He has also produced this as a play, which I would like to see if it is still on.

Something about the whole madcap scheme brings Francis Veber's film "Le diner de cons" to mind. Francois Pignon, the spectacularly moronic 'hero' of the film is revealed to have started his obsessive matchstick modelling of buildings because his wife has left him. Here too, the talented Jasper's dive back to pre-wife days and his habit of calling his girlfriend New Woman and later New Person (so that I thought for a while he had a second girlfriend) might be taken for insensitive, but I don't read it that way. And he does dedicate the book to her twice, using a real name, so I'm glad he found his horn.

[Gerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed but perhaps I suffer from a case misplaced expectations. When I learned that A Devil to Play is a story about an obsessive young man, I assumed that Jasper (the character's name and the author's), would be a kindred soul to Rollo Hemphill, perpetually obsessed boychik of my comic novels. Yes, Jasper is obsessed with relearning how to play the French horn in his middle years. The description is detailed and, I presume, accurate. But it's not all that funny. Or even entertaining. And it seems to go on forever, an episodic series of stumblings and bumblings toward his admittedly difficult goal of producing something like melody.

My principal complaint about this first-person narrative is that Jasper doesn't seem to have any personal relationships whatever. He mentions a significant other a few times, but never goes deeper than that. He talks about his family, his parents and siblings, but in the most oblique terms, and usually only in relation to his lifelong relationship with various kinds of horns (seriously).

I thought this was intended as a humorous novel. Is it a serious autobiography and I'm just missing the point?

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Am still reading this book at this time, but am having issues getting very far as I am not very enthused by the subject matter. It is well written, but if it were not a book-group selection, I would never have even considered reading a book about a guy who decided to play the french horn at the age of 39 after he had given it up at the age of 17.

So I didn't finish the book, but put it on the read list so that it didn't sit on my to-read list (since I have no desire to ever finish reading this book).

The author, Mr. Rees, tried very hard to make it an interesting read with metaphors and combining his own personal story with the history of what he refers to as "the horn." His anecdotes are somewhat entertaining, but not enough to hold my attention, or make me want to finish reading the book. I only gave it two stars because it is a well-written book, it is only the subject matter that I do not care for.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure that part of the reason I enjoyed "A Devil to Play" so much is that I play the horn, but I think it has broad appeal to any musicians or those who enjoy reading entertaining memoirs. Rees's descriptions of the frustrations of the horn were priceless--the spit! the cracked notes! the performance anxiety! the way no one really understands!--all so true! Best of all, the writing style was such that it was like reading a PG Wodehouse novel. Throughout the course of the book, he meets with many of the world's great horn players (and some impressive amateurs), and they and their reactions to his quest really come alive.

There's also an incredible wealth of knowledge in the book: the history of the horn and horn playing, the repertoire and the equipment, the great players and composers throughout the past 200 years. I've come away with an even greater appreciation for the horn.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would be easy to relegate this book to the "midlife crisis shelf," but it is more than that. It is about setting a goal, a seemingly improbable one, and after a year of single minded effort, achieving it. Jasper Rees is a witty, irreverent writer, who makes this improbable journey a delight. From travelling all over Europe to meet the best horn players, to a week in New Hampshire at Horn Camp, we learn much about the horn and the Mozart concerto K 447 that he resolves to play at the British Horn Society. His entertaining asides and insights into upperclass British life are quite entertaining. A fun read.

[J.F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever wanted to know what it's like to play the French Horn but never actually wanted to play one this might be your perfect substitute. Rees is a journalist and has a strong grasp for description so it is funny reading a very verbal 40-year old's attempt to learn the French horn in one year. Also covered is the origins of the horn, maintenance and idiosyncracies of the instrument, renowned players and pedagogues, composers who wrote for it, and all of the stuff that you deal with as a "horn player". But I relate to it, having gone through an illogical compulsion toward the french horn in early college.

[Justin Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you play a horn, then you must read this book. If you play other instrument and want to know something about horns, you must read this book. Jasper Rees provides sufficient humour and history of the horn and popular usage of it (recall the Horn sound in Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band? Or that in John Williams' movies?). You don't have to know anything about the horn to understand this book, for Rees details everything clearly. He also makes some good recommendation about famous horn players (I'll be honest in saying I don't know who Dennis Brain is until I read this book - now I have his CDs). I play the horn myself so the enjoyment of reading this book doubles. RECOMMENDED.

[Ailsa Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm probably slightly biased being a horn player that returned to playing after a similar gap. However, I found this a genuinely funny and interesting read. It follows Jasper and has quest to play the horn at the annual meeting of the British Horn Society after a 22 year gap. There are loads of interviews with a large number of the players in the worlds orchestral horn sections (the author would probably admit to his newly rediscovered hobby becoming an obsession)and additional history on the horn. The passages which describe his efforts to play will resonate with any horn player and are very funny. This book may well inspire you to dust off the instrument lurking in your own loft.

[Emily Mace · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a French horn player, I loved this book! I'm just getting back into playing as an adult, myself, and found his descriptions of playing the horn and trying to relearn a Mozart concerto to be the most compelling part of the book. I can only assume that the humor of the many jokes and asides about horn playing would carry over to someone not steeped in horn humor, but as a hornist, I often found myself laughing out loud, which was awkward when I was reading this book in a public place. The historical details about the history of the horn and its music were interesting, but not as new to me, and therefor not as compelling, as the personal narrative parts of the book, hence the four stars.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second time reading this memoir and I think it was even better this time. Jasper Rees decided to take up the horn again as an almost 40-year-old, after having quit in his teens. The book follows his efforts to play well enough to reach his lofty goal of playing a Mozart concerto at the British Horn Society annual conference. Along the way he meets a lot of famous horn players, and we learn lots about the horn, including, for example, a long section on how the Beatles used horn in their songs. Jasper writes with humor and a great deal of modesty. It is certainly an entertaining read for horn players.