Literature Review: Accompanied Kopprasch by Jeffrey Agrell

Jeffrey Agrell, Professor of Horn at the University of Iowa, has always produced quality materials for horn players and musicians around the world. The readers of Last Row Music are certainly familiar with his works as Agrell’s following books have been featured and reviewed on this website:

Horn Technique
Creative Hornist
Preparatory Kopprasch
Harmony Kopprasch
Rhythm Kopprasch
Duet Kopprasch

His newest work is no exception to aiding the development of horn players. Accompanied Kopprasch: Piano Accompaniment for Kopprasch Etudes, Volume I is the first installment of accompaniments that have not been previously seen for these famous etudes. Volume I features the first 34 etudes filled with flowing piano accompaniment. While the book has a hard binding, you can go to your local office supply store and have the binding replaced with a coil. For those familiar with the Bordogni piano accompaniments, Agrell has created these accompaniments in the same manner. What could be seen as simple, maybe even mundane etudes, Agrell has added an innovative approach by seeing these exercises as “actual” music that can still be challenging, but on a new, fresh level.

All the piano parts, written in concert pitch, add a thicker texture to these etudes, and can easily be readable by any college-level pianist. For instance, etude 14 is filled with triplet eighth notes for the soloist. Agrell has written the piano part to include quarter and duple eighth notes. The 3 against 2 patterns can certainly be a challenge that any musician should practice to strengthen collaboration skills.

This wonderful addition to the horn literature now only needs someone to record these accompaniments (with copyright permission of course) for eager horn players to practice.

Click here to purchase the book.

Click here to learn about other books by Jeffrey Agrell.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Jeffrey Agrell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”