Blowing his own horn

When Greg Hill played his alphorn on the steps of the Opera House yesterday, all that was missing was a herd of goats and a lonely goatherd.

Mr Hill, who is principal horn with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, was in town to tutor at the Waitaki summer music camp.

He returned to New Zealand from Switzerland a week ago with his 3.6m Swiss alphorn, made from alder wood, which he described as "pretty extraordinary".

For ease of transport, it broke down into three pieces.

The alphorn (or alpenhorn, or alpine horn) has been around for hundreds of years, first as a means of communication in the high alps and later as a musical instrument.

It consisted of a long, flaring tube with a mouthpiece and no keys, valves or slides.

Mr Hill, who lives in Wellington, decided the alphorn was something he would like to have.

"I want to have lots of fun blowing it around the place.

"So far I am doing so," he said.

He understood there were a few other alphorns in New Zealand but he had never come across one.

It was fair to say it was the only one in Oamaru, albeit temporarily.

The instrument was "fairly difficult" to play.

"I have to work at it.

"I can't be too casual about it."

Mr Hill said there were "heaps" of alphorns in Switzerland, although he did not see any being played in the streets.

While Mr Hill loved the sound of the instrument - it was "wonderful" in slightly echoey situations like mountain ranges - there was no place for it in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, he said.

He will be performing a solo at a public concert in the Waitaki Boys High School auditorium tonight at 7.30pm, which marks the end of the annual camp.