Canadian Works for Horn by Michael Conway Baker, Malcolm Forsyth and Elizabeth Raum

This document provides a reference source for horn players and educators worldwide, creating an awareness of three of Canada’s most prolific contemporary composers of horn repertoire. These composers are identified through research in Canada’s largest libraries for works by Canadian composers. All of the composers who have written at least one original solo work for horn with piano are included in a table that outlines both their total output for solo horn with piano, and horn in small chamber music settings. As the table indicates, the research reveals Michael Conway Baker, Malcolm Forsyth and Elizabeth Raum to be the most prolific in both areas. Together, they have contributed sixty works for horn with nine or fewer instrumentalists. The document begins with an outline of the resources that have been put into place across Canada to support the creation of Canadian repertoire. All of the three composers make use of these musical resources in the dissemination of their works throughout Canada, contributing to their output of this repertoire. An overview of the three composers and one representative work for each follow the discussion of Canadian resources. A performer’s guide for the music of Baker, Forsyth and Raum provides insight into their works to benefit performers. To this date, the dissemination and performance of works for horn by Canadian composers remains limited outside of Canada.