NFB Horn Quartet Goes Public at the 1996 IHS Workshop Cornucopia, June 1996

The NFB Quartet was started over 25 years ago at the University of Wisconsin by students of John Barrows, but until now their masterclasses and performances have been relatively low profile. Their appearance at the 1996 IHS workshop is a breakthrough for the group.

It isn't the first breakthrough, however. NFB meets once a year to rehearse, concertize, and record. Their first CD includes the first complete recording of the Hindemith Sonata, the first recording ever of the Gallay Grand Quartet, and the world premiere of Jay Wadenpfuhl's Tectonica. The CD, dedicated to Barrows, was released in 1991 to critical acclaim, including praise in The Horn Call and Das Orchester and voted Top Ten Album of the Year by the editors of American Record Guide. Their current recording project includes Schuller's Five Pieces for Five Horns with Barry Tuckwell, which will be on the program at IHS along with music by Debussy, Chick Corea, Bruckner, and Wadenpfuhl. Several tunes feature jazz improvization.

The quartet members are Jay Wadenpfuhl (BSO), David Kappy (University of Washington), William Hoyt (University of Akron), and Ricardo Almeida (State Opera, Cologne, Germany). Ricardo gets the tough fourth horn parts because of his terrific low range. Dave is putting together a web home page, and Bill writes arrangements for the group.

Now you see why they get together only once a year. However, that once is special, and they never miss it. They rotate hosting, and they're all accomplished chefs, so they cook a lot as well as play a lot. Jay says that their playing together has meant more and more to them over the years -- "it's like going home." Their performances are warm and informal, with talks by each member.

They don't reveal what NFB stands for, except to say that the words are not in English.

Review of CD

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