Click photo to enlarge
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra principal horn Greg Hill
plays an alphorn outside the Opera House yesterday. Photo
by Sally Rae.
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.
