The Gallay Project
In January 2010 Anneke Scott was awarded a prestigious Gerald Finzi Scholarship to
undertake performance based research into the composer and horn player Jacques-Francois
Gallay. The scholarship will fund a month of research in Paris where Anneke will
have the opportunity to focus specifically on Gallay’s Douze Grands Caprices, a set
of unaccompanied pieces for horn which she will performing several times during 2010/2011.
For any horn player who wishes to learn more about performance practice, 19th century
France comes across as an amazingly creative and virtuosic environment that produced
several horn players of interest. One name that often stands out during this era
is that of Jacques-François Gallay.
Gallay was born in Perpignan in 1795 and it was relatively late in his life that
he moved to Paris to study with the highly influential Louis- François Dauprat at
the Conservatoire where he won the Premier Prix. After completing his studies he
initially joined the Odéon Orchestra leaving soon afterwards to become cor solo (principal
horn) at the Theatre Italien, a post he held in conjunction with cor solo for Louis-Phillippe’s
private orchestra. It was in recognition of his achievements as a musician that he
succeeded Dauprat not only at the Societe des Concerts but also as professor at the
Conservatoire, two of the most influential posts in 19th century Paris. Anneke writes
of her earliest impression of Gallay’s music “I was immediately grabbed by the vivaciousness
and lyrical qualities of his highly demanding writing and found working on his music
rewarding as to successfully perform them requires an in-depth knowledge of the relevant
techniques plus the ability to craft the music, which is improvisatory in character,
into a coherent entity. Without both, the techniques and a sense of integrity of
intent, these works can sound like technical exercises and loose much of their charm.”
For more information on the Gerald Finzi Trust and Scholarship please click here.
For photos of the recording sessions for the Gallay Caprices please click here.
