Where was the Post Horn bloke yesterday?

[MattyFromLE]

Paul, i.e. the guy who plays the post horn, had work commitments yesterday so couldn't make the game.

I think this is the first game he has missed since he took over from Henry, he doesn't get a penny for doing it and at the end of the day is just a fan like the rest of us.

So to the people who have criticized him I suggest you lay off him. He is a very talented bloke and 99% of the time is note perfect.

As someone said its very difficult to play the post horn, so why don't you support him rather than pick fault.

It's a sign that we have won yesterday with some fans looking for an excuse to have a moan at something.

Completely agree. My mum and dad played in a brass band with Paul, and although I was too young to really know him that well I know that he's extremely talented. Also, its also an extremely hard instrument to play and to do it in front of 20,000 people every Saturday for NOTHING is certainly admirable.

We won. Stop moaning and enjoy it.

[Saxondale]

Anybody who's played a brass instrument will tell you that the Post Horn Gallop is a bloody difficult things to play on a bugle / hunting horn. You have to have lips like Bosch fuel injectors.

So cut the bloke some slack. It's great having it played live, it's part of our identity and it adds to the occasion of a matchday.

[kingfox]

I heard he got sacked, so we can pay King Power there money, balance the books and all that.

He is hardly good anyway, at the start sometimes he messes up well bad.

He needs some lessons in my opinion.

[SaM 12]

I heard he got sacked, so we can pay King Power there money, balance the books and all that.

He is hardly good anyway, at the start sometimes he messes up well bad.

He needs some lessons in my opinion.

Yes sometimes he makes mistakes, everyone does but its not always him and quite often as someone said earlier it's the sound system that makes him look like a tool!

[Kitchandro]

Hearing the Post Horn Galop played live as the team comes out is a Leicester City tradition which spans the passage of time.

Managers, Players, Directors, Fans will come and go but in which ever era you lived and supported the Club, the one constant factor is from its inception, the Post Horn Galop.

It is of no consequence whether it is played well or badly. What is most important is that it is played and played live.

Having been taken by my dad to see the City for the first time in Autumn 1949, I still remember enjoying the Sousa marches played live by half a dozen or so members of the Salvation Army band, come rain or shine, and as the time neared to 3 o’clock, getting that extra tinge of excitement as we heard the first three notes of the PHG ring out and we cheered like mad as our heroes took to the field.

Exactly. People seem to want to modernise everything and it's a bit pathetic tbh. Things being played live gives it a traditional feel and this is one of Leicester's oldest and most famous traditions.

I was delighted when they started doing it live and I'll be hugely disappointed if they change it back.

The recorded version is good for a ring tone, shit for the actual match.

The live version is brilliant and it sends shivers down my spine when he walks onto the pitch before a big game and you can feel the anticipation around the ground. They probably do need to turn the speakers up louder but I can't recall him playing it badly since the first few times he started doing it.

People talk about us 'losing our identity' because of the new stadium but it's stuff like this that makes us lose it. We need to keep our traditions.

[Dan]

He might get it wrong occasionally but it beats having that fvcking cringefest at the start, god it is beyond embarrassing.

[Kitchandro]

The recorded version is.

The live version seemed a good idea in theory, but doesn't always work, because the guy can't play it properly.

So we played the recorded version 50, 60 years ago then?

[stockyfox]

Sousa marches?

Yes, you had to give credit to the Sally Army Band, they could have played hymn tunes but they didn't, they played Sousa marches like 'Semper Fidelis, 'Liberty Bell', 'King Cotton March' and 'The Washington Post' and they were good!

If you don't know what I'm talking about, have a listen to these tunes on YouTube, shut your eyes and try to imagine Filbo on a wet and windy afternoon in February.

I'm glad you said this because I didn't remember hearing the bugle and I though I was getting dementia.

I can't remember anyone playing a bugle. The only time you are likely to hear that on its own is when the 'Last Post' is played followed by the 'Reveille'

Reading the ongoing discussion of Live v Recorded versions, I think that Paul should wear a radio mic so you sort of get the best of both worlds!

[speedwayson]

To be honest, I don't get why we have the post-horn gallop. Isn't it what is played by huntsmen when they are hunting foxes? It's as if we are saying right before kick off that we are getting hunted. Still, for what it's worth, it's tradition, a tradition I like and a tradition I like hearing played live.

no it what coach drive used to warn people they where coming

[speedwayson]

I'll do it

i would just think all them free home matches plus all the hos great

[Voll Blau]

One thing's for sure, the jazzed up "down with the kids" version needs to be pulped. It's shite.

The recorded version we used to play at Filbo was proper.

[FoxesAreBlue]

As a brass player myself, I know all to well just how difficult it is to play and can accept that on occasion he might make mistakes/split a note. Infact, he'd be a robot if he didn't.

You can hear from his tone and pitch that he is clearly a strong player too. But he plays the tune wrong every week. It's like he heard it once, tried to make up the rest and stuck with what he 'learnt'. He's not a patch on old Henry who used to play it (I believe he sadly passed away a few years ago?). Just wish he would so down with a recording and learn the bloody tune right.

[C.J]

IMO, sometimes the P.A system cuts out and makes him sound bad. But 9 times out of 10 he gets it spot on, must be quite a hard thing to do. I think its unque, I hope he hasnt been given the boot.

He's better than that old bloke who we used to have, I dont think he ever got it right.

[Guest Bilo]

Those complaining about the quality of the PHG playing should be asked what they'd prefer, because the alternatives are pretty awful.

I don't want O Fortuna or Dance of the Knights (that's the Apprentice theme by the way fact fans), because we're not MK Dons.

I don't want some god awful piped plastic version of our club anthem, because we're not Coventry.

I don't want some WWE music because we're not American.

I want a proper, authentic sounding version of the PHG because we're Leicester City, and that's what we've done since the 1940s.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

As a brass player myself, I know all to well just how difficult it is to play and can accept that on occasion he might make mistakes/split a note. Infact, he'd be a robot if he didn't.

You can hear from his tone and pitch that he is clearly a strong player too. But he plays the tune wrong every week. It's like he heard it once, tried to make up the rest and stuck with what he 'learnt'. He's not a patch on old Henry who used to play it (I believe he sadly passed away a few years ago?). Just wish he would so down with a recording and learn the bloody tune right.

IMO, sometimes the P.A system cuts out and makes him sound bad. But 9 times out of 10 he gets it spot on, must be quite a hard thing to do. I think its unque, I hope he hasnt been given the boot.

He's better than that old bloke who we used to have, I dont think he ever got it right.

This guy's much better than Henry, he was always getting it wrong and looked like he considered himself some kind of celebrity for doing the job. This guy's better and does it with minimal fuss.

I love the post horn gallop, it's one of the few things that is truly unique to Leicester. People are happy to slate the Poznan and "We love you" because they're ripping other teams off but then also complain about the PHG?!

It's a horn being played by a guy on a football pitch as the teams come out, so what if it's not always spot on?! It isn't the Proms, and on tune, off tune it's a Leicester tradition and one that should be carried on. As was quite rightly strongly expressed when the club tried to bin it with the stadium move. I think we had 'Jump Around' to walk out to in the first game at the Walkers. Jesus Christ!

[FoxesAreBlue]

Not complaining about the PHG per se. I think it's great and should definately continue to be played live.

As I stated, I understand the odd bum-not here and there, especially in cold weather. I am also intelligent enough to know when the PA system is cocking up and that is far from being his fault.

But **** me the last bit is plays is completely made up! Surely if you want it played (which i do) you want it played right?

[frost1]

i think it is good that the guy goes out and plays the post horn gallop it gets the crowd going

[GBLCFC]

Does anyone know what happened with the Drum yesterday?

[fox in the sox]

People on here are saying PHG is unique to us but when we played Peterborough they said on Radio Leicester that they also come out to it. Don't know if this is correct.

[stockyfox]

Right! A History lesson on the PHG.

The PHG was written by one Herman Koenig, a German Cornet vituoso, in 1844 and was first performed in London. It was popular as the last dance at a hunt ball or wedding reception and signified the end of the evening.

Now addressing the debate as to the version Paul plays. He is not playing it wrong or badly. He is extemporising - a bit like a jazz player. If you go to YouTube, you will find umpteen different versions, but note the differences when there is a band accompaniment and when the performer is on their todd.

But first, turn your sound up , click on this link and enjoy a bit of nostalgia.....

[LCFC BEAST]

Does anyone know what happened with the Drum yesterday?

I was wondering that. I sit a few rows below Jobber and he had a new black drum with the LCFC crest printed on it. Just seemed like the noise/tuning of it wasn't right so he called for his old drum back.

[skinnydipper]

And what's happened to the freebie trips to Thailand, the ones funded by the club (return interest 8%) ?

[ScouseFox]

The man > The recording.

[stu]

As a brass player myself, I know all to well just how difficult it is to play and can accept that on occasion he might make mistakes/split a note. Infact, he'd be a robot if he didn't.

You can hear from his tone and pitch that he is clearly a strong player too. But he plays the tune wrong every week. It's like he heard it once, tried to make up the rest and stuck with what he 'learnt'. He's not a patch on old Henry who used to play it (I believe he sadly passed away a few years ago?). Just wish he would so down with a recording and learn the bloody tune right.

Yes, Henry did pass away a few years ago. In fact Paul plays Henry's post horn.

He also plays in a brass band and regularly performs the post horn gallop (i.e. the brass band version) with no music.

He has 20 seconds or so play a version of the PHG as the teams come out on to the pitch so he had to come up with a cut down version from a 4 minute piece to 20 seconds, hence the difference and why it doesn't sound like the traditional brass version.

I'm surprised you think that Henry did a better performance than Paul, but you are entitled to your own opinion of course.

[Kitchandro]

Not complaining about the PHG per se. I think it's great and should definately continue to be played live.

As I stated, I understand the odd bum-not here and there, especially in cold weather. I am also intelligent enough to know when the PA system is cocking up and that is far from being his fault.

But **** me the last bit is plays is completely made up! Surely if you want it played (which i do) you want it played right?

I've heard a number of different versions of the tune actually. There may be an original one but I don't think there is a definitive end bit. The important bit is the first half really, as long as he gets that bit right and it's recognisable the end I'm not too bothered about. In fact whether it's his own improvisation/remix or whatever, I always thought the end bit fitted well and is as good as the rest of it.

No idea what people are complaining about really. Paul is a credit to the club and the live version of the PHG is brilliant. Before a big game it really is inspiring.