James Chambers has meticulously curated this remarkable collection of seven orchestral excerpt books tailored for horn players. Widely regarded as the gold standard in orchestral study materials, this compilation stands out due to its expansive range, comprehensive content, and its invaluable utility for advanced degree studies, auditions, and even for passionate amateurs.

Engaging with orchestral excerpts is instrumental in enhancing brass players’ technical proficiency, musicality, ensemble coordination, and audition preparedness. It also nurtures a profound appreciation for symphonic music. These excerpts are indispensable in the training regimen of horn players, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities presented in orchestral and ensemble performances.

Delving into these musical fragments offers a unique chance to explore the intricate nuances and interpretations of symphonic repertoire. They expose horn players to diverse musical styles, dynamics, phrasing, articulation, and stylistic elements specific to various composers and historical periods. This exposure fosters a deeper comprehension of musical expression, nurturing a sensitive and nuanced playing style.

By immersing themselves in these excerpts, horn players not only acquaint themselves with the pieces frequently requested in auditions but also refine their rendition of these specific passages. This meticulous study helps in crafting a consistent, polished interpretation, significantly enhancing their prospects in auditions for professional orchestras or educational institutions.

Comprising a total of 450 pages, this collection is unparalleled globally. You can buy the titles individually, or as a complete set for half-price. Below I have listed every single excerpt in every volume so you can find specific things you are looking for. There are samples from each volume to the left, and you can click above for an immediate digital download.

Excerpt List: Volume 1

Beethoven, Overture “Egmont”
Beethoven, Symphony No. 1
Bizet, L’Arlésienne. Suite No. 1
Brahms, Academic Festival Overture
Bruckner, Symphony No. 4
Franck, Symphony
Lalo, Overture “Le Roi d’Ys”
Mahler, Symphony No. 1
Mussorgsky, Night on the Bare Mountain
Prokofieff, Lieutenant Kije
Saint-Saens, Symphony No. 3
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 1
Sibelius, Finlandia
Smetana, Overture “The Bartered Bride”
Vaughan-Williams, A London Symphony

Excerpt List: Volume 2

Beethoven, Symphony No. 3
Berlioz, Overture “Beatrice And Benedict”
Berlioz, Overture “Roman Carnival”
Bizet, L’arlésienne Suite No. 2
Borodin, Polovetsian Dances
Brahms, Opus 56. Variations On A Theme Of Haydn
Debussy, Afternoon Of A Faun
Debussy, Nocturnes
Hindemith, Mathis Der Maler
D’indy, Istar
Kabalevsky, Overture “Colas Breugnon”
Mendelssohn, Overture “Fingal’s Cave”
Rimsky-Korsakov, Antar
Rossini, Overture “Semiramide”
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5
Smetana, The Moldau
Stravinsky, Le Sacre Du Printemps
Verdi, Requiem

Excerpt List: Volume 3

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, Op. 67
Borodin, In the Steppes of Central Asia
Borodin, Symphony No. 2.
Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 83
Brahms, Symphony No. 1, Op. 68
Chausson, Symphony, Op. 20
Dvorak, Carnival Ouverture, Op. 92
Elgar, Enigma Variations, Op. 36
Franck, Le Chasseur Maudit (The Accursed Hunter).
Liszt, Les Préludes
Mahler, Symphony No. 5
Mendelssohn, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61
Prokofieff, Romeo and Juliet. Suite No. 1, Op. 64a
Prokofieff, Romeo and Juliet. Suite No. 2, Op. 64b
Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade, Op. 35
Rossini, Overture “The Siege of Corinth”
Stravinsky, Dumbarton Oaks. Concerto for Chamber Orchestra

Excerpt List: Volume 4

Bach, J. S., Brandenburg Concerto No. 1
Beethoven, Symphony No. 2
Berlioz, Harold in Italy
Brahms, Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra
Brahms, Serenade in A major, Opus 16
Bruckner, Symphony No. 7
Dvorák, Symphony No. 4
Mahler, Songs of a Wayfarer
Milhaud, The Creation of the World
Prokofieff, Symphony No. 5
Rossini, Overture “William Tell”
Stravinsky, Petroushka.
Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 1

Excerpt List: Volume 5

Beethoven, Symphony No. 4
Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 1
Chabrier, España
Debussy, La Mer
Dvorák, Symphony No. 2 in D minor
Franck, Les Eolides
Franck, Redemption
Grieg, Piano Concerto
Haydn, Symphony No.45 (“Farewell”)
Mahler, Symphony No. 7
Mahler, Kindertotenlieder
Mussorgsky, Introduction to “Khovanchtina”
Prokofieff, Symphony No. 6
Schubert, Symphony No. 5
Shostakovich, Cello Concerto No. 1
Sibelius, Violin Concerto
Strauss, Salome’s Dance
Stravinsky, Fireworks
Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 2

Excerpt List: Volume 6

Beethoven, Symphony No. 6
Beethoven, Symphony No. 7
Beethoven, Symphony No. 8
Debussy, Printemps
Debussy, Rondes de Printemps
Dukas, Fanfare for “La Peri”
Dukas, La Peri
Dvorák, Symphony No. 9 (5)
Mahler, Symphony No. 4
Prokofieff, Peter and the Wolf
Ravel, Bolero
Ravel, Rapsodie Espagnole
Ravel, Piano Concerto
Sibelius, Symphony No. 1
Strauss, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet

Excerpt List: Volume 7

Brahms, Serenade, Op. 11
Bruckner, Symphony No. 8
Debussy, Le Martyre De St. Sebastien
Debussy, Fanfare For “Le Martyre De St. Sebastien”
Ibert, Divertissement
Ravel, La Valse
Rossini, Overture “Il Turco In Italia”
Schubert, Symphony No. 4
Tchaikovsky, Francesca De Rimini
Wagner, Siegfried’s Rhine Journey