Halali
Hunting horn signal announcing that the quarry is brought to bay or taken.
What it means
Halali is a hunting horn signal. Originally it announced that the quarry was brought to bay or killed. Today it counts above all as the signal that marks the end of the hunt. It is played on the hunting horn, usually the Fürst-Pless horn or the parforce horn.
Musical use
The halali belongs to the fixed hunting signals with which hunters communicate, mark the course of the hunt, and report events such as the start, a kill, or the end. Since hunting horns are natural instruments and produce only the notes of the harmonic series, the signals consist of simple, well-carrying motifs. The call “Halali” itself comes from the French of the parforce hunt and has become, as an exclamation, a symbol for the end of a hunt, also in proverbs.
The halali should be distinguished from other hunting signals such as the horn call to set out, to assemble, or to announce a kill, and from the fanfare, which can act as an independent piece for brass. The signal is short and functional, not a concert piece.
Performance practice
When you play a hunting signal, blow with a clear, secure embouchure and even rhythm, since the signal must be recognisable at a distance. Practise the motifs outdoors or from a distance to test their carrying power.