Volume 11 - Lowell Greer
Logo by Martha Blanks
This month’s featured album, An Odyssey of Horn Literature, dates from Lowell Greer’s early career and highlights his broad range of musical tastes. Greer’s is well-known for his benchmark recordings on both Harmonia Mundi and L’oiseau Lyre of natural horn repertoire, including Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms, that established a standard for the sound concept and style of modern natural horn playing. What a treat it is then to explore his valve horn recordings on vinyl!
Lowell Greer (1950-2022), was a Wisconsin native and studied with John Barrows at the University of Wisconsin before moving to Chicago to continue his studies with Frank Brouk, Helen Kotas, Ethel Merker, and Dale Clevenger. His orchestral engagements included Assistant Principal with the Detroit Symphony, and then Principal horn positions with the Mexico City Philharmonic, Antwerp Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, and finally the Toledo Symphony. During this period he was an active soloist and winner of multiple international competitions, while also teaching at the University of Cincinnati, the University of Michigan, and the Carl Nielsen Academy in Denmark.
In tandem with his superlative performance career, Lowell Greer was regarded by all who met him as a true ambassador for the horn’s history and music. His knowledge of everything regarding horn and his enthusiastic mentoring of students was always on display at regional workshops and international symposia, as well as the music camps he frequented including the Kendal Betts Horn Camp, the National Music Festival, and many others. The International Horn Society honored Lowell’s accomplishments with the Punto Award in 2008, and inducted him as an Honorary Member in 2014.
I personally regard Lowell Greer as a mentor, as I studied natural horn privately with him for over a year at his old Victorian bed and breakfast in Toledo, Ohio. I own and play on two of his former horns, a Goudon natural horn of early 19th century Parisian make, and an Alexander compensating descant horn that was made for Thomas Newell of the Boston Symphony and then acquired by Lowell. I also performed as his duet partner in the last solo concerts he performed – Telemann’s Concerto in D for Two Horns in Charlottesville, Virginia. Lowell’s deep knowledge of music and horn history, performance style across myriad spectrums, sardonic humor, and incredible warmth and charisma captivated anyone who spent time with him. Without question, his artistry has left an indelible influence on countless hornists and musicians.
I also want to acknowledge John Edward Mason, historian and photographer, for capturing images of Lowell that were used ubiquitously in his obituaries and memorials.
Let’s dive into the album! An Odyssey of Horn Literature was recorded in 1980 with pianist Arvi Sinka on the Coronet label, a small boutique studio based in Columbus, Ohio. Lowell programs several short recital pieces and convincingly displays his artistry by drawing the essential elements of style and character from each of these varied works.
Jean Francaix’s charming Divertimento requires fleet register changes and technique, all while maintaining a light and effervescent sound. Greer’s precise use of flutter-tonguing, trills, and crisp articulations accentuate this humorous romp as the piece closes:
Jongen’s Lied is the least known work on the album. Greer weaves this rhapsodic melody with ample sustain and careful balance with the piano texture:
Greer takes a more rugged approach in Kvandal’s weighty Introduction & Allegro. This music has a very rhythmically active dialogue between the horn and piano, and Greer widens his tone and articulation style to capture this soundscape of struggle and heroism:
Rossini’s grand showpiece, Prelude, Theme and Variations is a dazzling display of Greer’s virtuosity. The velocity of his performance is striking, with incredible dexterity and a meticulous articulation clarity that creates a thrilling charge to the final cadence!
This album is a wonderful collection of recital favorites, each one given refined interpretations by Lowell Greer. We hope you’ve enjoyed An Odyssey of Horn Literature and reading Horn on Record!