Additionally, these manuscript parts seemed to be missing a number of detail markings, such as dynamics (which were present in some parts but not all). Same with articulations, and there were some wrong-sounding notes. So I added some detail markings at my discretion, which I am happy about.
And, voila! I have a nice, pretty arrangement of the 6 Opus 10 sextets that is very playable. And you know what? This music is really good. It is some of the best-sounding horn ensemble music I've ever heard...and it's some of the earliest. I've been having a great time recording these and listening to them. I've got the first 3 completed, and I plan to make videos of them all. They're pretty challenging, so I've had to practice them quite a bit before trying to record them. But, man, these pieces are so great, and I can't wait to get them all recorded and show them to you.
On a different topic, I read a really helpful article from Greg Hustis (the long-time and now retired principal horn of the Dallas Symphony) in the February 2017 issue of the Horn Call. He lists a bunch of bullet points with suggests for young horn players to make it as a professional musician. Everything he says in here is stuff I had heard from someone else through my life, but having it all there in one place and it all being so direct...it really spoke to me. I realize after reading this some of the things I could have done differently to get myself farther as a musician. It's not just one thing, it's many things...he's got like 40 bullet points on here! I had big aspirations, you know? To be a better player, a full-timer, or a horn professor.
I'm really tempted to follow all of these bullet points religiously. A lot of it has to do with how to dedicate yourself as a player, how to work with other musicians & network, and how to life a healthy musician lifestyle. I'm very tempted to do it...
Take care and value music.