Kruspe versus Geyer: An examination of horns used in several Texas symphony orchestras

After the creation of the double horn in 1897, many horn makers experimented with multiple styles of horn. Two horns arose out of these experimentations, the Kruspe and the Geyer wrap horns. Many of the horns that have been invented since then, have all been based on the styles of the Kruspe and Geyer horns.

This document will focus on the differences between Kruspe and Geyer horns in terms of the makers, the history, the mechanical aspects, and the sound. Brief information about the Knopf horn, a rival of the Geyer horn, will also be discussed.

The next section will highlight five of the major symphony orchestras of Texas: Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin, and their brief history and respective horn sections. Analysis of the influential horn players in each section, shows how the horns in the section transformed over the years, mostly from Kruspe styles to Geyer. The appendix consists of multiple tables showing the horn players in several Texas symphonies and the years they performed, as well as their position.