The Black Horn

The Black Horn: The Story of Classical French Hornist Robert Lee Watt tells the story of the first African American French Hornist hired by a major symphony in the United States. Today, few African Americans hold chairs in major American symphony orchestras, and Watt is the first in many years to write about this uniquely exhilarating-and at times painful-experience.
The Black Horn chronicles the upbringing of a young boy fascinated by the sound of the French horn. Watt walks readers through the many obstacles of the racial climate in the United States, both on and off stage, and his efforts to learn and eventually master an instrument little considered in the African American community. Even the author's own father, who played trumpet, sought to dissuade the young classical musician in the making. He faced opposition from within the community-where the instrument was deemed by Watt's father a "middle instrument suited only for thin-lipped white boys"-and from without. Watt also documented his struggles as a student at a nearly all-white major music conservatory, as well as his first job in a major symphony orchestra after the conservatory canceled his scholarship.
Watt subsequently chronicles his triumphs and travails as a musician when confronting the realities of race in America and the world of classical music. This book will surely interest any classical musician and student, particularly those of color, seeking to grasp the sometimes troubled history of being the only "black horn."

Robert Lee Watt studied French horn at the New England Conservatory of Music with Harry Shapiro of the Boston Symphony. In 1970, he was hired by the Los Angeles Philharmonic as assistant first French horn under maestro Zubin Mehta, making him the first African American French hornist hired by a major symphony in the United States.

Chapter 1: Prelude
Chapter 2: Early Memories
Chapter 3: Back to Asbury Park
Chapter 4: Left Back
Chapter 5: First Love
Chapter 6: Music Chose Me
Chapter 7: Adolescent Secrets
Chapter 8: A Random Blessing
Chapter 9: First Date
Chapter 10: Pleasure and Pain
Chapter 11: Lessons in Life
Chapter 12: My Great Escape
Chapter 13: First Sweet Victory
Chapter 14: Tension
Chapter 15: Welcome to the World
Chapter 16: Music Camp/Boston Pops
Chapter 17: Best Summer
Chapter 18: Turning Pro
Chapter 19: Loving a Colored Girl
Chapter 20: Greeting Manhood
Chapter 21: In Love / Tanglewood
Chapter 22: The Musical Mountain
Chapter 23: First Audition
Chapter 24: Madness!
Chapter 25: The Los Angeles Philharmonic
Chapter 26: The Dream
Chapter 27: Black Los Angeles
Chapter 28: Deeper Into the Dream
Chapter 29: Emotions Miscellaneous
Chapter 30: To Viet Nam?
Chapter 31: On with Life
Chapter 32: Fear of Flying
Chapter 33: Japan
Chapter 34: The New Black Player / The Ark
Chapter 35: Leave