Bad Neighbours for Two Horns and Piano by Catherine Likhuta

Composer's Notes: Bad Neighbours (2017) is a 13-minute chamber concerto for two horn soloists and horn quartet, commissioned by Horn Hounds (Peter Luff and Ysolt Clark, Australia). The solo parts are aimed at professional players, and the quartet parts are equally suitable for university students and established performers. The piece was originally planned for two horns and piano, for the world premiere by Horn Hounds at the 49th International Horn Symposium in Brazil. However, we decided collectively to change the instrumentation before I began composing, in order to feature not just Peter and Ysolt but also four of their students at this important international event. [Note: This is a version for two horns and piano.] I was born and raised in Ukraine, so you can guess which bad neighbours I am talking about… As the piece is inspired by the (most recent) war and invasion from Ukraine’s ultimate “bad neighbour”, it features numerous musical dialogues, arguments and even fights. It mixe