Ever wondered why horns in an orchestra are so patriotic? Or have you just accepted that there is a historical reason why French horns (brass) are French, and English horns (woodwind) are English? And what even is a cor anglais?
French instrument makers were preeminent manufacturers of the circular ‘hoop’ shape of the horn. So, I guess they should get credit for that.
In World Cup terms, that’s a 1 – nil lead to the French!
But what about the English horn?
Well, there is nothing particularly English about it. The name derives from a simple mistranslation of the word ‘angle’. Early English horns were built with a curve (or angle for ease of holding). ‘Angle’ (French), ‘anglais’ (English). And there you have it.
That’s a sneaky penalty and England score! Game locked at 1 – 1.
There was also an old musical story doing the historical rounds claiming that the instrument got its name because it possessed an ‘angelic’ sound. I think we can leave religion out of this blog for the time being!
The same transcontinental mistranslation occurred with the oboe. Hautbois (meaning ‘high wood’) became hautboy, then hobo (yes, hobo!) and finally, oboe. Oboists are pretty relieved to have dropped the ‘h’ on that one!
The fact of the matter is, the English horn is neither English, nor a horn. It is a tenor oboe. Confused? Well, take a seat. It’s about to get even more loopy.
The French, as you would expect, call the English horn the cor anglais (French translation). So, I guess you’d expect the English to call the English horn, the English horn, right?
Wrong! The English call the English horn … the cor anglais!
Aaaargh!!
The only countries in the world who call an English horn an English horn are (wait for it) the Americans (typical) and up until recently, the Germans (understandable).
I’m happy for France and England to play out a 1 – 1 draw. As for the USA and Germany …
By Andrew Derrett
