Horn section

In many genres of music, a horn section is a group of musicians playing woodwind and brass instruments in varying combinations, who augment the basic group of players. However, in an orchestra or concert band, it comprises only the musicians who play the French horn, and in a British-style brass band it is the tenor horn players. In some popular-music genres the horn section is integral to the group, rather than being merely supplemental.

Symphonic horn section

In a symphony orchestra, the horn section is the group of symphonic musicians who play the French horn (or German horn or Vienna horn). These musicians are typically seated to the back of the ensemble and may be on either side at the director's discretion. Placing them to the left with their bells toward the audience increases the prominence of the section, whereas on the right, the sound reflects off the back of the stage. The order from the principal horn (1st horn) to the 4th horn is right to left from the director's view. The section is ordered in this way so the principal horn may be heard by all players as the principal sets the timbre and intonation of the section.

Popular-music horn section

Horn section of Ojos de Brujo

In non-classical music groups such as blues, funk, or rock bands, the horn section refers to a group of wind and brass instrumentalists — usually comprising saxophone, trumpet and trombone players; sometime singularly, and sometimes in pairs or more of each instrument. In blues and jazz, saxophones and brass instruments are colloquially referred to as "horns." The horn section usually has written parts which are prepared by an arranger using orchestration to provide a harmonic and melodic accompaniment to a song or musical group. In some cases, the horn section may improvise a simple backing part using well-known "stock" lines.

Horn sections are an integral part of musical genres such as jazz, R&B, blues, funk, calypso, ska, soul music and gospel music. Most of these horn sections feature some combination of saxophones, trumpets and trombones. More rarely, other wind or brass instruments such as flute, clarinet or tuba may be added. Other popular musical genres, such as rock and pop, also use horn sections.

Notable horn sections

Horn sections in blues bands and funk groups may be composed of session musicians playing arranged parts, or they may be a consistent group of musicians. A small number of horn sections use a consistent group of musicians who become well known as a unit.

• Blood, Sweat & Tears
• Chicago

• The Empire Horns
• The E Street Band
• The Grass Roots
• The Horny Horns

• The J.B.'s
• The Know How Horns

• The Memphis Horns
• The Muscle Shoals Horns
• The Phenix Horns from Earth Wind & Fire
• Reel Big Fish
• The Punk Funk Horns
• The Seawind Horns
• Steely Dan
• Streetlight Manifesto

• The Tower of Power Horns
• The Miami Horns
• Earth, Wind & Fire