low-pitched instruments. For this reason, most Bach oratorios are today performed on a high D trumpet, and January-February, 1950 extremely difficult compositions, like the "Christmas Oratorio," the Bach "B Minor Mass," etc., are generally played on the piccolo trumpet in High F, or piccolo trumpet in High G, or the piccolo trumpet in High Bb. Do You Know Your It is a recognized fact that composers do not always write the trumpet part in the proper pitch (favoring the Brasses? open tones of an instrument as the old masters did to facilitate the execution of the part or to produce the right tone quality); instead they sometimes follow the road of convenience by just writing the trumpet part in the key in which the composition is written, taking it for granted that a trumpet player knows how to transpose and will Expert describes models and their special uses in select the right kind of an instrument, as he sees fit. Other modern symphony orchestra and band take it for granted that every player uses a Bb trumpet (which is predominantly used in Germany and Russia), while other composers who lived in France or Austria VINCENT BACH where C trumpets arc mostly used have written most of their trumpet parts in C. The instruments are described as follows, with notations on how they are used by our leading symphony THE WORK of a modern symphony or opera orchestra artists. trumpeter is highly exacting. In addition to technique, tone, and range, he must be prepared to play the various Piccolo Trumpet in High Bb instruments indicated in the scores— brass instruments varying in pitch and bore. This is not for the purpose of This instrument is not very much used but is well suited avoiding the difficulties of transposition, but to facilitate for the performance of Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto the execution of difficult technical passages, to overcome No. 2," also for the "Christmas Oratorio," and Bach "B problems of intonation, and to produce the particular Minor Mass." We build these instruments in two bell tonal quality which the type of composition prescribes. sizes—one on the style of the regular trumpet and the Not all players agree on the type of instrument that other with a comparatively large bell, resembling; the should be used for certain compositions. For instance, the fluegclhorn bell. This instrument with a large mouthpiece D trumpet prescribed in Bach oratorios was originally is used by Georges Mager, first trumpeter of the Boston played on a low D trumpet, which instrument was used Symphony Orchestra, in most of Bach's compositions. with a shallow smaller mouthpiece in the extreme high register. Symphony men of today are not accustomed to Trumpet in C playing this type of instrument and could not afford to train their embouchure just for the occasional use of these Every symphony trumpeter must have a C trumpet Top, Aida trumpet. Above, left to right: Piccolo trumpet in high Bb, C trumpet, high D trumpet, soprano trumpet in Eb, soprano cornet in Eb, piccolo trumpet in high F, piccolo trumpet in high G, and Bb fluegelhorn. Not in picture, Bb trumpet. available and should use it a good part of the time—if not parts of Respighi's "Pines of Rome" {written for Bb altogether. In France, C trumpets are used exclusively in trumpet but fits better within range of D trumpet); symphony orchestras, and to a great extent also in Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary;" Ravel's "Bolero;" Germany and particularly in Austria. The trumpet section Prokolief's "Lieutenant Kije" (written in Bb, but of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is famous for its fine backstage bugle call should be played on D trumpet); performances on C trumpets. A good many modern Proko-fieff's "Suite Scythe;" Stravinsky's "Sacre du compositions art very strenuous to play when written in Printemps" (for 2nd part of composition), and other the high register and a trumpeter can perform these parts modern compositions. with greater case and more effectively by using a C trumpet rather than by forcing the high tones on a Bb Soprano Trumpet in High Eb trumpet. Our leading trumpet players are using C trumpets more and more. The instrument is particularly A very important instrument for modern symphony work effective in Wagncr's "Parsifal Prelude," Strauss' and which every symphony trumpeter should own and be "Thus Spake Zarathustra," "Symphonia Domestica," ready to play on quick notice. The instrument is used for Tone Poems and other compositions; Brahms' compositions such as William Schuman's ''American symphonies, numbers 1, 2, and 4; Mendelssohn's Festival Overture," Stravinsky's "Sacre de Printemps" "Italian" and "Reformation" symphonies; Dvorak's "New (written for D trumpet but the first part is better World;" Debussy's "Festivals;" Stravinsky's "Fire Bird;" performed on the Eb trumpet, the second part betler on D in Respighi's "Pines of Rome," and all chamber music, trumpet), Vincent d'Indy's "Symphony," Saint-Saens' because of the light singing tone of the instrument. "Jennesse d' Hercule." Bb Trumpet Soprano Cornet in Eb Generally built of 50% conical and 509': cylindrical bore While this instrument is rarely prescribed in symphony tubing. This instrument is used for concert and dance scores, it is widely used in all European concert bands— work and because of its sure response in attack and its in England, France, Italy, Germany, etc. It is a very heroic, martial tone, is best suited for heavy fanfare effective instrument which deserves to be reintroduced in music, nourishes and other staccato work. It is, therefore, our American concert bands. In most the military bands the most practical instrument for all-around orchestral on the European continent where fluegclhorns are used work. (For solo and band work, the cornet should be instead of cornets, they also use a High Eb Fluegelhorn, given preference). which is very effective. The Bb trumpet is very popular in the United States, England, Germany, Italy, Russia and the German Piccolo Trumpet in High F speaking part of Switzerland, In France, Austria and the French secnon of Switzerland. the trumpet players are The High F Trumpet is an important instrument for a accustomed to play C trumpets. In the English- and symphony musician and is used today for most of the French-speaking countries, brass players prefer difficult oratorio performances, for some of the very high instruments with piston valves (Perinet valves, invented parts in the Bach "B Minor Mass." and for Bach's in 1839). In Germany, Russia, Austria and the German "Brandenburg Concerto No. 2." It is the most popular speaking part of Switzerland, the musicians use rotary instrument for use on these compositions. (All piccolo valves (invented in 1813). instruments should be used with smaller and shallower Modern trumpets are built in various bores and the so- mouthpieces to do justice to both instruments and called "medium" bore (.453") is recommended for dance player.) orchestra and other strenuous work. The ''medium large" (.459") or "large bore" (.462") are with some exception Piccolo Trumpet in High G given preference by symphony men. The "bore" generally refers to the valve bore alone and does not The High G Trumpet has been designed principally for indicate what tone quality or timbre is to be expected the performance of Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto No, from the instrument—unless additional Information is 2," which can be executed with greater facility on given regarding the size of the bell and the mouthpipe. account of the high g-a trill which can be played one tone lower (f-g trill). The instrument lias a very brilliant tone High D Trumpet anil is suitable for work in the extreme high register. This is another "must" for the symphony trumpeter Bb Fluegelhorn playing modern works or oratorios by Bach, Handel, etc. This instrument has a brilliant tone and is very effective This instrument represents the contralto voice of opera. It in the high register in Bach's "B Minor Mass," has a rich. very mellow tone of l)ric timbre and is well "Christmas Oratorio," "3rd Suite in D," and most other suited for song playing, especially in the middle register Bach compositions; Handel's "Water Music," "Messiah;" (contralto range). It is of exactly the same pitch and range Mozart and Haydn symphonies are played as the Bb trumpet or cornet. It is widely used in European advantageously on a D trumpet (which blends well with military bands (in Germany, France, Italy, Austria, the strings) ; Beethoven's "7th" and "9th" symphonies; Switzerland, etc.), If used in the proper place, the instrument is very effective and should be used much more in American military organizations. The Low Eb and F Trumpets instrument, unfortunately, is used in unison with cornets and trumpets, which gives a mixture of different tone These instruments are little known in the English- qualities without giving each instrument a chance to speaking countries, but are still very popular in Austria display its own charcteristic timbre. W'hcn fluegelhorns and other Germanic countries, as well as in Russia. In the are used for mellow passages, trumpets and cornets European orchestrations they share the work of third and should not play the same melody. In Austria and France, fourth cornet parts, also of French horn parts, playing to a they also use fluegelheirns built in C. great extent the afterbeat in march music. It would be vcry effective to use instruments of this type in American Aida (Triumphal) Trumpet marching bands and would help to emphasize the afterbeats and thereby improve the rhythm. These These instruments have been designed principally for instruments are also ideal for use in ensemble work performancesof the opera "Aida," but are extensively (brass quartets or quintets) and in combination with the used for other triumphal affairs, processions, and martial later-mentioned tenor trumpet in Bb.