SANTA FE, N.M.—Within the world of devoted French-horn players in the U.S., Elliott Higgins was a pioneering figure. As a young hornist in the 1970s, he helped launch the first French-horn soloist ...

I played the French horn every day for hours, just producing long tones, getting used to the instrument, and enjoying the lovely tone. When I tried to play bugle calls on the real French horn, I ...