Corno da Capo: The Life and Adventures of an 18th Century Horn Player

by Richard M. Seraphinoff

“… I put my head in my hands for a few moments to try to grasp the situation. I was sitting in a dusty 18th century room with a young man dressed in a brown waistcoat, white ruffled shirt, and knee-length pants with silk stockings who was telling me in some sort of archaic German that it was 1770.”

Corno da Capo is a fantasy historical novel written especially for French horn players and musicians interested historical performance and music history. The general reader will also enjoy the story and learn much about European court musicians and traveling soloists in the last quarter of the 18th century.

The story follows the adventures of John Paulson, 21st century American horn player, who finds himself dropped into Paris in the year 1770, and how he survives and pursues a brilliant career as the 18th century Bohemian horn soloist Johann Palsa. Upon his arrival, he is befriended by horn player Carl Türrschmidt, and during their many adventures together, they become the most celebrated horn duo of the time.

This fictionalized story of these actual 18th century horn players, who were superstars during their lifetimes, is based on the relatively little information that has come down to us about them. The documented information about their lives is presented in the notes at the back of the book.

Genres: Music, Fiction

493 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2021

Reviews

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a total hoot, and educational at the same time. A 21st-century French horn player finds himself thrown back to the 18th-century Paris, where he quickly learns to adapt to the language, culture, and, most importantly, the musical style and community.

While very general historical events, such as the French Revolution, are included, the musical historical details are where this book really shines. Most of the characters, from obscure performers to composers to patrons, are taken from actual history. Even the persona occupied by the main character is an actual historical figure. There are multiple entire chapters where characters discuss how to redesign the French horn to accommodate more chromatic playing, which was not possible on earlier horns.

It's a very niche book that I would recommend to anyone who is or loves a French horn player *and* who is a total classical music geek. I'm guessing most others won't find this interesting.

I happen to be a violin/viola player, but I have spent the last six years driving my teenage son to and from French horn lessons, and the past couple of years, I've been getting an earful from him the whole way about French horn playing, including historical instruments. I bought this book for him—it was an automatic buy as soon as I heard about it—but I wanted to read it too. I loved all the mentions of violas (and nary a put-down!).

It does have a decent sprinkling of mild swears that I could have done without, but it's nothing that will keep me from handing the book to my 16-year-old.

[Nathanael Udell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, I found this book highly entertaining and extremely informative. If I were to critique anything, it would be that information was, at times, a bit repetitive; however, upon reading the translations of the main sources, some by Richard Seraphinoff and Pierre Antoine Tremblay, it became apparent that that was the writing style indicative of the 18th century. I would best describe this book as having great academic insight without the dryness that can sometimes accompany these papers. It is presented in an entertaining and digestible manner. Corno da Capo: The Life and Adventures of an 18th Century Horn Player is for horn players and musicians alike looking to broaden their artistic scope. It is beautifully written by a musician who just so happens to play the horn.

[Danamanian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Corno da Capo. This historical novel is told from the perspective of a contemporary horn player thrust back into the era preceding the development of valves, when playing chromatically was made possible only by means of hand-stopping. The novel will be of special interest to horn players interested in the development of hand-horn technique, but will also interest anyone interested in the music-making scene of the late 1700s. The contemporary horn player assumes the identity of Johann Palsa, and becomes the high-horn partner in a famous horn duo of the 18th century. Playing in various orchestras and chamber music groups as well as soloing in France, Germany and England exposes the players to a much more diverse set of styles and even pitches than modern musicians encounter, and the reader learns something of what conditions must have been like. It is a real treat when Johann Palsa meets composers and historical figures who are well-known to modern readers. Viewing late 18th century Europe this way is much more interesting for me than most historical novels I've read previously. At 450 pages, Corno da Capo takes some time to read, but it never felt like a chore. I was sorry to reach the end and already miss reading about the adventures of Johann Palsa.