I admit it! I have been lazy! During the pandemic, I could’ve been working on this website every day and kept it well up-to-date, but I haven’t. It’s early October now, here are some updates as to what has been going on in my musical life since the shut down in March: First, on the arranging front, a performance of a big arrangement I was preparing for the Commonwealth Brass Band was put off because of the pandemic. I have completed it, a re-transcription of an adventurous medley of songs by the great Harold Arlen that I did for the Louisville Orchestra some years ago. "An Arlen Rainbow" stay tuned for more!
In June (2020) I had a fun opportunity, performance-wise: I was the “house band” on Paula Poundstone’s podcast "Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone”!
The weekly podcast always has a one person instrumental house band, whether it be a contrabassoonist, bagpiper or what have you. (This was dictated partially by the small studio in which it was originally recorded, and has continued during the separation imposed by the pandemic). I have been a big fan of the podcast for quite some time and volunteered through email a few weeks before. This episode is not quite as funny as most, perhaps, but it is definitely worth your listen!
There are one or two oddities about the music that I submitted and how they used it. Number one, I am identified as a bass trombone player, but most of the clips are on euphonium, with a few on bass trombone and a couple on tuba. There is also a little inside joke for regular listeners of the podcast in the music I chose for the opening, which I hoped the hosts would
pick up on but they did not: Paula has made up a simple song to try to help her remember her weekly vocabulary word, and cohost Adam Felber has pointed out that her song sounds a great deal like “Lullaby of Broadway” - so that is what I played!
About that warning: "The show contains some coarse language, and definitely some liberal politics, so consider yourself warned!" I have some straight-laced relatives, so I edited the broadcast down to exclude all (I think) of the four-letter words and all (I think) of the politics. (Also a few boring stories!) If you would like to hear it, please send me an email at: horton.raymond@gmail.com. If you'd rather hear it unexpurgated, click here:
"Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone” Episode 101
This was exciting: a former neighbor, who now lives in Paris, France, had a friend come up to him and say “Aren’t you from Floyds Knobs, Indiana? Paula Poundstone had an instrumentalist named Raymond Horton from Floyds Knobs. Do you know him?" Neighbor replied “Know him! I lived two houses away from him all of the years I was growing up!
In June (2020) I had a fun opportunity, performance-wise: I was the “house band” on Paula Poundstone’s podcast "Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone”!
The weekly podcast always has a one person instrumental house band, whether it be a contrabassoonist, bagpiper or what have you. (This was dictated partially by the small studio in which it was originally recorded, and has continued during the separation imposed by the pandemic). I have been a big fan of the podcast for quite some time and volunteered through email a few weeks before. This episode is not quite as funny as most, perhaps, but it is definitely worth your listen!
There are one or two oddities about the music that I submitted and how they used it. Number one, I am identified as a bass trombone player, but most of the clips are on euphonium, with a few on bass trombone and a couple on tuba. There is also a little inside joke for regular listeners of the podcast in the music I chose for the opening, which I hoped the hosts would
pick up on but they did not: Paula has made up a simple song to try to help her remember her weekly vocabulary word, and cohost Adam Felber has pointed out that her song sounds a great deal like “Lullaby of Broadway” - so that is what I played!
About that warning: "The show contains some coarse language, and definitely some liberal politics, so consider yourself warned!" I have some straight-laced relatives, so I edited the broadcast down to exclude all (I think) of the four-letter words and all (I think) of the politics. (Also a few boring stories!) If you would like to hear it, please send me an email at: horton.raymond@gmail.com. If you'd rather hear it unexpurgated, click here:
"Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone” Episode 101
This was exciting: a former neighbor, who now lives in Paris, France, had a friend come up to him and say “Aren’t you from Floyds Knobs, Indiana? Paula Poundstone had an instrumentalist named Raymond Horton from Floyds Knobs. Do you know him?" Neighbor replied “Know him! I lived two houses away from him all of the years I was growing up!
NEW FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
"The Little Drummer Boy - El Conguerito (the Little Conga Boy)"
a fresh new take on a familiar Christmas tune for orchestra!
SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL INFO!
"The Little Drummer Boy - El Conguerito (the Little Conga Boy)"
a fresh new take on a familiar Christmas tune for orchestra!
SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL INFO!
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Premiere!!!
Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 at 7 p.m., the Commonwealth Brass Band presented a free concert at Edwardsville United Methodist Church. The program included a world premiere of Sunday Sunshine, a musical celebration of hymns of the United Methodist Church, commissioned by tubist Steve Lasher and other members of the CBB, written by composer Raymond Horton. It was played expertly and was received extremely well by the audience! A repeat performance at the Ogle Center, New Albany, IN on Sunday, Oct 28th was also a great success! rayhortonmusic.com
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The premiere of Emery Crossing: a hit!
The audience loved it! Sample recording:
Emery Crossing Movement III "Ghost Cars! (Junkyards)"
(Using Irish folk tune "The Unquiet Grave") Duration: 3'20"
A scary old Irish folk tune is accompanied by ghost sounds, first in percussion, later in the brass.
The audience loved it! Sample recording:
Emery Crossing Movement III "Ghost Cars! (Junkyards)"
(Using Irish folk tune "The Unquiet Grave") Duration: 3'20"
A scary old Irish folk tune is accompanied by ghost sounds, first in percussion, later in the brass.
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I am extremely pleased to announce that I have been awarded a 2017-2018 Individual Artist Grant from the Indiana Arts Commission. This is my fifth such Grant since 2003. The grant is to write a work for brass choir or brass band entitled Emery Crossing which portrays, in six short movements, a very interesting road that goes from just outside New Albany, Indiana to the riverfront near Jeffersonville (across from Louisville, KY).
Emery Crossing is a picturesque road which runs past boat dealerships, junkyards, rusted train cars, abandoned homes and beautiful pastures to reveal a breathtaking view of the Ohio River and thriving commerce and industry. My good friend Nate Siler (Trombone professor at Eastern Kentucky University) suggested that I apply to write a work for a college brass choir, and promises to have it played as soon as possible. Another good friend, Jerry Amend (Principal Trumpet in the Louisville Orchestra and founder/director of the Commonwealth Brass Band) suggested I write it to be playable by British brass band also, and had it played as such by the Commonwealth Brass Band, conducted by the composer, in March 2018.
AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER
Make Gentle the Life of This World
awarded a
Special Judge's Citation,
Recognizing Unique Artistic Achievement,
by The 2012 American Prize in Composition:
Orchestra Division (Professional)
awarded a
Special Judge's Citation,
Recognizing Unique Artistic Achievement,
by The 2012 American Prize in Composition:
Orchestra Division (Professional)
This website is making process!
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” (Berthold Auerbach)
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” (Berthold Auerbach)