Mary Beth Orr Bridges Folk and Classical Worlds on The Singing Horn

Mary Beth Orr is a French hornist and folk vocalist whose dual talents illuminate every corner of her work. As third horn of the Grand Rapids Symphony and a prizewinner at international horn competitions, Orr brings a rare authenticity to her recordings. On The Singing Horn, she pairs traditional songs and Mahler transcriptions with original folk–classical hybrids, weaving horn and voice into a single expressive instrument.

From the opening duo of “Appalachia and Wayfaring Stranger,” where Orr’s horn and voice trade melodies over Mark Buchner’s bass, to Mahler’s Songs of the Wayfarer, her album melds distant traditions into a cohesive whole. The first cycle culminates in a brief, chilling “Oh Death,” its stark vocal line a reminder of mortality’s edge.

On “Wondrous Love,” Orr expands to a small ensemble—horn, voice, percussion, violin and bass—creating a tender reinterpretation of the folk standard. She then moves through Robert Voisey’s commissions, each tiny gem revealing a different facet of her artistry: from solo horn’s pure tone in “Fox Den” to brief vocal-percussion sketches in “Season of Ice.”

Spanish Mary (Espana) stands apart as the lone extended track carried entirely by Orr’s horn and unadorned voice. Over its seven minutes, she sustains a haunting melody proving that simplicity can hold its own.

The album’s later stages revisit folk sources—“When The Mountains Cry” adds autoharp and violin to horn and voice—before closing with a triumphant “I’ll Fly Away,” once again full ensemble. Throughout, Orr’s liner notes reflect on motherhood, loss, and the horn’s human resonance, turning this 26‑track set into a genuine love letter.