A natural trumpet is a valveless brass instrument that is able to play the notes of the harmonic series .
65-621: A trumpeter is a musician who plays the trumpet. Trumpeter may also refer to: Birds : Fish : Trumpeter Plucked The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles . The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet —with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet , pitched one octave below the standard B ♭ or C trumpet. Trumpet-like instruments have historically been used as signaling devices in battle or hunting, with examples dating back to at least 2000 BC. They began to be used as musical instruments only in
130-436: A closed tube when the player presses it to the lips; therefore, the instrument only naturally produces every other overtone of the harmonic series. The shape of the bell makes the missing overtones audible. Most notes in the series are slightly out of tune and modern trumpets have slide mechanisms for the first and third valves with which the player can compensate by throwing (extending) or retracting one or both slides, using
195-401: A mouthpiece , which is inserted into the receiver. The receiver is attached to the long tubing, called the first yard, with a short connector, called a ferrule . The first yard is connected with a ferrule to the first bow, followed by another ferrule and the second yard. The second yard is attached with a ferrule to the second bow. On the baroque trumpet, the vent holes are located at the top of
260-406: A perfect fourth (five semitones). Used singly and in combination these valves make the instrument fully chromatic , i.e., able to play all twelve pitches of classical music. For more information about the different types of valves, see Brass instrument valves . The overall pitch of the trumpet can be raised or lowered by the use of the tuning slide. Pulling the slide out lowers the pitch; pushing
325-532: A Germanic source (compare Old High German trumpa , Old Norse trumba 'trumpet'), of imitative origin." The earliest trumpets date back to 2000 BC and earlier. The bronze and silver Tutankhamun's trumpets from his grave in Egypt, bronze lurs from Scandinavia, and metal trumpets from China date back to this period. Trumpets from the Oxus civilization (3rd millennium BC) of Central Asia have decorated swellings in
390-583: A bugle pitched in B ♭ ). Some of the finest surviving examples of pre-Baroque and Baroque era trumpets date back as far as the 1580s, and were made by Anton Schnitzer of Nuremberg . Other notable trumpet makers include the Hainlein family of Nuremberg, the Haas family of Nuremberg, the Ehe family of Nuremberg, and William Bull of London . All of these instrument makers built what are now called natural trumpets. During
455-493: A close approximation of the sound of the natural trumpet (and its ability to more easily blend with other instruments in an ensemble) without the "quirks" of intonation to which modern ears are unaccustomed. Though such vented instruments have been the norm in period orchestras for decades, in recent years ensembles such as La Petite Bande and soloists such as Jean-François Madeuf have been performing and recording using pure natural trumpets. In conventional (non-period) orchestras,
520-566: A conical bore, such as cornets and bugles , cause a muffled sound in those with a cylindrical bore. Natural trumpets continued to be used through the Classical era and even into the early Romantic period. But changing musical styles along with a growing lack of sufficiently capable players spelled an end to the high, florid, complicated parts typical of Baroque music . A few transitional composers, such as Michael Haydn , Leopold Mozart and Johann Molter , wrote concerti for natural trumpets in
585-455: A hanging banner. This instrument is mostly used for ceremonial events such as parades and fanfares . David Monette designed the flumpet in 1989 for jazz musician Art Farmer . It is a hybrid of a trumpet and a flugelhorn, pitched in B ♭ and using three piston valves. Other variations include rotary-valve , or German, trumpets (which are commonly used in professional German and Austrian orchestras), alto and Baroque trumpets , and
650-415: A rounded rectangular shape. There are many distinct types of trumpet, with the most common being pitched in B ♭ (a transposing instrument ), having a tubing length of about 1.48 m (4 ft 10 in). The cornet is very similar to the trumpet but has a conical bore (trumpet has a cylindrical bore) and its tubing is generally wound differently. Early trumpets did not provide means to change
715-433: A straight mute with an additional, bell-facing cup at the end, and produces a darker tone than a straight mute. The harmon mute is made of metal (usually aluminum or copper ) and consists of a "stem" inserted into a large chamber. The stem can be extended or removed to produce different timbres, and waving one's hand in front of the mute produces a "wah-wah" sound, hence the mute's colloquial name. Using standard technique,
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#1733085689072780-454: A trade name of the Humes & Berg company. They are often held in place with cork. To better keep the mute in place, players sometimes dampen the cork by blowing warm, moist air on it. The straight mute is conical and constructed of either metal (usually aluminum )—which produces a bright, piercing sound—or another material, which produces a darker, stuffier sound. The cup mute is shaped like
845-417: A trumpet in B ♭ in his Cantatas Nos. 5 and 90, trumpets in E ♭ in the first version of his Magnificat and, most famously, the solo trumpet in high F in his Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 . In the 18th century various attempts were made to overcome the limitations in the notes available to natural trumpets. As early as the time of Bach, crooks (additional lengths of tubing) were introduced between
910-480: A typical pitch standard near A=466 Hz. No known instruments from this period survive, so the details—and even the existence—of a Renaissance slide trumpet is a matter of debate among scholars. While there is documentation (written and artistic) of its existence, there is also conjecture that its slide would have been impractical. Some slide trumpet designs saw use in England in the 18th century. The pocket trumpet
975-510: A wide selection of mutes: common ones include the straight mute , cup mute , harmon mute (wah-wah or wow-wow mute, among other names ), plunger , bucket mute , and practice mute . A straight mute is generally used when the type of mute is not specified. Jazz and commercial music call for a wider range of mutes than most classical music and many mutes were invented for jazz orchestrators. Mutes can be made of many materials, including fiberglass, plastic, cardboard, metal, and "stone lining",
1040-429: Is a compact B ♭ trumpet. The bell is usually smaller than a standard trumpet bell and the tubing is more tightly wound to reduce the instrument size without reducing the total tube length. Its design is not standardized, and the quality of various models varies greatly. It can have a unique warm sound and voice-like articulation. Since many pocket trumpet models suffer from poor design as well as poor manufacturing,
1105-511: Is again a thriving art around the world. Many modern players in Germany and the UK who perform Baroque music use a version of the natural trumpet fitted with three or four vent holes to aid in correcting out-of-tune notes in the harmonic series. The melody-dominated homophony of the classical and romantic periods relegated the trumpet to a secondary role by most major composers owing to the limitations of
1170-563: Is also possible to produce pedal tones below the low F ♯ , which is a device occasionally employed in the contemporary repertoire for the instrument. Contemporary music for the trumpet makes wide uses of extended trumpet techniques. Flutter tonguing : The trumpeter rolls the tip of the tongue (as if rolling an "R" in Spanish) to produce a 'growling like' tone. This technique is widely employed by composers like Berio and Stockhausen . Growling : Simultaneously playing tone and using
1235-422: Is at the same pitch as a trombone and is usually played by a trombone player, although its music is written in treble clef . Most bass trumpets are pitched in either C or B ♭ . The C bass trumpet sounds an octave lower than written, and the B ♭ bass sounds a major ninth (B ♭ ) lower, making them both transposing instruments . The historical slide trumpet was probably first developed in
1300-411: Is close to the note shown, it is flat relative to equal temperament , and use of those fingerings is generally avoided. The fingering schema arises from the length of each valve's tubing (a longer tube produces a lower pitch). Valve "1" increases the tubing length enough to lower the pitch by one whole step, valve "2" by one half step, and valve "3" by one and a half steps. This scheme and the nature of
1365-429: Is constructed of brass tubing bent twice into a rounded oblong shape. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced by blowing air through slightly separated lips, producing a "buzzing" sound into the mouthpiece and starting a standing wave vibration in the air column inside the trumpet. The player can select the pitch from a range of overtones or harmonics by changing the lip aperture and tension (known as
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#17330856890721430-422: Is traceable to Otto Steinkopf, who early in the 20th century discovered holes on a few museum originals. However, it appears that these holes were usually placed at antinodes , and thus designed to prevent the note from sounding, rather than allowing it to be played in tune. While modern reconstructions with nodal finger holes may not be completely authentic in comparison with the originals, they nevertheless allow
1495-566: The Vienna valve trumpet (primarily used in Viennese brass ensembles and orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic and Mnozil Brass ). The trumpet is often confused with its close relative the cornet , which has a more conical tubing shape compared to the trumpet's more cylindrical tube. This, along with additional bends in the cornet's tubing, gives the cornet a slightly mellower tone, but
1560-453: The embouchure ). The mouthpiece has a circular rim, which provides a comfortable environment for the lips' vibration. Directly behind the rim is the cup, which channels the air into a much smaller opening (the back bore or shank) that tapers out slightly to match the diameter of the trumpet's lead pipe. The dimensions of these parts of the mouthpiece affect the timbre or quality of sound, the ease of playability, and player comfort. Generally,
1625-431: The embouchure . Standard fingerings above high C are the same as for the notes an octave below (C ♯ is 1–2, D is 1, etc.). Each overtone series on the trumpet begins with the first overtone—the fundamental of each overtone series cannot be produced except as a pedal tone . Notes in parentheses are the sixth overtone, representing a pitch with a frequency of seven times that of the fundamental; while this pitch
1690-581: The A, B ♭ , D, E ♭ , E, or F trumpet on the C trumpet or B ♭ trumpet. The smallest trumpets are referred to as piccolo trumpets . The most common models are built to play in both B ♭ and A, with separate leadpipes for each key. The tubing in the B ♭ piccolo trumpet is one-half the length of that in a standard B ♭ trumpet making it sound an octave higher. Piccolo trumpets in G, F and C are also manufactured, but are less common. Almost all piccolo trumpets have four valves instead of three—the fourth valve usually lowers
1755-458: The accompanying text in a sacred work. Baroque composers – such as Antonio Vivaldi , Georg Philipp Telemann , George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach – made frequent use of trumpets in sacred, orchestral, and even solo works. Many of these trumpet parts are technically quite difficult to play on a natural instrument, and were often written with a specific virtuoso performer in mind, such as Gottfried Reiche (Bach's chief trumpeter and
1820-453: The back of the tongue to vibrate the uvula, creating a distinct sound. Most trumpet players will use a plunger with this technique to achieve a particular sound heard in a lot of Chicago Jazz of the 1950s. Double tonguing : The player articulates using the syllables ta-ka ta-ka ta-ka . Triple tonguing : The same as double tonguing, but with the syllables ta-ta-ka ta-ta-ka ta-ta-ka . Doodle tongue : The trumpeter tongues as if saying
1885-564: The early Classical era. In fact, it could be argued that the concertos of Haydn and Molter represent the zenith of the natural trumpet in terms of technical demands, containing as they do some of the highest notes ever penned for the trumpet in symphonic works (in the case of Haydn, a G above high C – the 24th harmonic on a natural instrument). However, for many decades following, most orchestral trumpet writing consisted of basic harmonic support (what many trumpeters derisively refer to as "thumps and bumps") and fanfare-like passages, with very little in
1950-471: The early baroque composer Girolamo Fantini demonstrated that by playing in the extreme upper register and "lipping" the notes of the 11th and 13th harmonics (that is, flattening or sharpening those impure harmonics into tune with the embouchure ), it was possible to play diatonic major and minor scales (and, hence, actual melodies rather than arpeggios ) on a natural trumpet. The most talented players were even able to produce certain chromatic notes outside
2015-453: The finale of the work. After the brief attempt at developing a keyed trumpet , the instrument for which Joseph Haydn and Johann Nepomuk Hummel wrote their famous concerti, the development of the more versatile valve trumpet (c. 1815) spelled the eventual demise of the natural trumpet in Western music, until its resurrection in the 20th century. Throughout the first half of the 19th century,
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2080-478: The harmonic series by this process (such as lipping a natural C down to B), although these notes were mostly used as brief passing tones. (In Germany, this technique was called Heruntertreiben , literally "driving down".) Other "impure" harmonics (such as the 7th and 14th – B ♭ on an instrument pitched in C – which are very flat) were avoided by most composers, but were sometimes deliberately used, for example, where their unusual sonic qualities would complement
2145-421: The higher harmonics (from the 8th harmonic up, which are closer together in pitch) in a playable range, enabling the performance of diatonic melodies. The bugle, by contrast, is only useful for performing simple fanfares and military calls (such as " Taps ") in a lower range (normally only utilizing the 2nd through 6th harmonics), based on the notes of a major triad (for example, the notes B ♭ , D, and F on
2210-404: The highest baroque trumpet parts are usually played on the modern piccolo trumpet , an instrument that provides firm support of range, attack and intonation, while producing a brighter sound – very different from the natural trumpet the composers had in mind. The natural trumpet is differentiated from another valveless brass instrument, the bugle, in that it is nearly twice the length. This places
2275-448: The instruments are otherwise nearly identical. They have the same length of tubing and, therefore, the same pitch, so music written for one of them is playable on the other. Another relative, the flugelhorn , has tubing that is even more conical than that of the cornet, and an even mellower tone. It is sometimes supplied with a fourth valve to improve the intonation of some lower notes. On any modern trumpet, cornet, or flugelhorn, pressing
2340-440: The intonation, tone color and dynamic range of such instruments are severely hindered. Professional-standard instruments are, however, available. While they are not a substitute for the full-sized instrument, they can be useful in certain contexts. The jazz musician Don Cherry was renowned for his playing of the pocket instrument. The tubing of the bell section of a herald trumpet is straight, making it long enough to accommodate
2405-458: The late Baroque period the natural trumpet had been accepted into Western art music. There is evidence, for example, of extensive use of trumpet ensembles in Venetian ceremonial music of the 16th century. Although neither Andrea nor Giovanni Gabrieli wrote music specifically for the trumpet , they would have been very familiar with its technical possibilities. Later, talented players such as
2470-456: The late 14th century for use in alta cappella wind bands. Deriving from early straight trumpets, the Renaissance slide trumpet was essentially a natural trumpet with a sliding leadpipe. This single slide was awkward, as the entire instrument moved, and the range of the slide was probably no more than a major third. Originals were probably pitched in D, to fit with shawms in D and G, probably at
2535-415: The late 14th or early 15th century. Trumpets are used in art music styles, for instance in orchestras, concert bands , and jazz ensembles, as well as in popular music . Sound is produced by vibrating the lips in a mouthpiece, which starts a standing wave in the air column of the instrument. Since the late 15th century, trumpets have primarily been constructed of brass tubing, usually bent twice into
2600-549: The left thumb and ring finger for the first and third valve slides respectively. Trumpets can be constructed from other materials, including plastic. The most common type is the B ♭ trumpet, but A, C, D, E ♭ , E, low F, and G trumpets are also available. The C trumpet is most common in American orchestral playing, where it is used alongside the B ♭ trumpet. Orchestral trumpet players are adept at transposing music at sight, frequently playing music written for
2665-451: The length of tubing, whereas modern instruments generally have three (or sometimes four) valves in order to change their pitch . Most trumpets have valves of the piston type, while some have the rotary type. The use of rotary-valved trumpets is more common in orchestral settings (especially in German and German-style orchestras), although this practice varies by country. A musician who plays
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2730-413: The low F ♯ at the bottom of the standard range. Extreme low pedals are produced by slipping the lower lip out of the mouthpiece. Claude Gordon assigned pedals as part of his trumpet practice routines, that were a systematic expansion on his lessons with Herbert L. Clarke. The technique was pioneered by Bohumir Kryl . Microtones : Composers such as Scelsi and Stockhausen have made wide use of
2795-512: The lowest note is the written F ♯ below middle C . There is no actual limit to how high brass instruments can play, but fingering charts generally go up to the high C two octaves above middle C. Several trumpeters have achieved fame for their proficiency in the extreme high register, among them Maynard Ferguson , Cat Anderson , Dizzy Gillespie , Doc Severinsen , and more recently Wayne Bergeron , Louis Dowdeswell , Thomas Gansch , James Morrison , Jon Faddis and Arturo Sandoval . It
2860-460: The middle, yet are made out of one sheet of metal, which is considered a technical wonder for its time. The Salpinx was a straight trumpet 62 inches (1,600 mm) long, made of bone or bronze. Homer ’s Iliad (9th or 8th century BCE) contain the earliest reference to its sound and further, frequent descriptions are found throughout the Classical Period . Salpinx contests were a part of
2925-420: The modern sense; and the modern bugle continues this signaling tradition. Improvements to instrument design and metal making in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance led to an increased usefulness of the trumpet as a musical instrument. The natural trumpets of this era consisted of a single coiled tube without valves and therefore could only produce the notes of a single overtone series. Changing keys required
2990-461: The mouthpiece and the body which lowered the pitch of the instrument and allowed it to be used in a variety of keys. In the latter part of the 18th century side holes covered with keys and a sliding mechanism were tried. Later Anton Weidinger , court trumpeter in Vienna, invented a 5-key trumpet. These experiments were not completely successful, however, since side holes, which work well on instruments with
3055-444: The natural trumpet. Berlioz wrote in 1844: Notwithstanding the real loftiness and distinguished nature of its quality of tone, there are few instruments that have been more degraded (than the trumpet). Down to Beethoven and Weber , every composer – not excepting Mozart – persisted in confining it to the unworthy function of filling up, or in causing it to sound two or three commonplace rhythmical formulae. The trumpet
3120-622: The original Olympic Games. The Shofar , made from a ram horn and the Hatzotzeroth, made of metal, are both mentioned in the Bible. They were said to have been played in Solomon's Temple around 3,000 years ago. They are still used on certain religious days. The Moche people of ancient Peru depicted trumpets in their art going back to AD 300. The earliest trumpets were signaling instruments used for military or religious purposes, rather than music in
3185-450: The overtone series create the possibility of alternate fingerings for certain notes. For example, third-space "C" can be produced with no valves engaged (standard fingering) or with valves 2–3. Also, any note produced with 1–2 as its standard fingering can also be produced with valve 3 – each drops the pitch by 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 steps. Alternate fingerings may be used to improve facility in certain passages, or to aid in intonation. Extending
3250-664: The period, however, these instruments were simply called trumpets, not "natural trumpets", as a valved instrument had yet to be developed. In the second half of the 20th century as historically-informed performance came into fashion, modern instrument makers began building instruments based on historical instruments. Among the pioneers were Meinl & Lauber, Adolf Egger, Robert Barclay, Frank Tomes. Makers active as of 2021 include Matthew Parker, Graham Nicholson, Markus Raquet, Geert Jan van der Heide, Cristian Bosc, Rainer Egger, Bernhard (Ewald) Meinl, Tony Esparis, Nikolai Mänttäri, Nathaniel Wood, and Gunther Cogen. The natural trumpet has
3315-449: The period, with the addition of anachronistic nodal "tone holes" (also called "venting holes") used to more easily and accurately correct the intonation of the instrument and the use of altered copies of mouthpieces or baroque inspired modern ones. (There is a growing consensus to refer to these instruments as " baroque trumpets " to distinguish them from pure "natural trumpets".) The use of finger holes on reconstructions of natural trumpets
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#17330856890723380-531: The pitch by a fourth, making some lower notes accessible and creating alternate fingerings for certain trills . Maurice André , Håkan Hardenberger , David Mason , and Wynton Marsalis are some well-known trumpet players known for their virtuosity on the piccolo trumpet. Trumpets pitched in the key of low G are also called sopranos, or soprano bugles, after their adaptation from military bugles . Traditionally used in drum and bugle corps , sopranos employ either rotary valves or piston valves . The bass trumpet
3445-453: The player to change crooks of the instrument. The development of the upper, " clarino " register by specialist trumpeters—notably Cesare Bendinelli —would lend itself well to the Baroque era, also known as the "Golden Age of the natural trumpet." During this period, a vast body of music was written for virtuoso trumpeters. The art was revived in the mid-20th century and natural trumpet playing
3510-461: The same note, a tremolo effect can be created. Berio makes extended use of this technique in his Sequenza X . Noises : By hissing, clicking, or breathing through the instrument, the trumpet can be made to resonate in ways that do not sound at all like a trumpet. Noises may require amplification. Natural trumpet The natural trumpet was used as a military instrument to facilitate communication (e.g. break camp, retreat, etc.). Even before
3575-460: The slide in raises it. Pitch can be "bent" using the embouchure only. To overcome the problems of intonation and reduce the use of the slides, Renold Schilke designed the tuning-bell trumpet. Removing the usual brace between the bell and a valve body allows the use of a sliding bell; the player may then tune the horn with the bell while leaving the slide pushed in, or nearly so, thereby improving intonation and overall response. A trumpet becomes
3640-447: The subject of a famous painting of the era) or Valentine Snow , for whom Handel composed some of his more noted trumpet parts. Indeed, highly skilled trumpeters were a prized commodity in the era, held in high esteem and avidly sought after by musical patrons. The vast majority of baroque trumpet parts were written for a natural instrument pitched in C or D, although there were occasional exceptions. J. S. Bach, for example, calls for
3705-399: The third valve alone gives essentially the same tubing length as the 1–2 combination. (In practice there is often a deliberately designed slight difference between "1–2" and "3", and in that case trumpet players will select the alternative that gives the best tuning for the particular note being played.) When a fourth valve is present, as with some piccolo trumpets , it usually lowers the pitch
3770-431: The third valve slide when using the fingerings 1–3 or 1-2-3 further lowers the pitch slightly to improve intonation. Some of the partials of the harmonic series that a modern B ♭ trumpet can play for each combination of valves pressed are in tune with 12-tone equal temperament and some are not. Various types of mutes can be placed in or over the bell, which decreases volume and changes timbre. Trumpets have
3835-503: The trumpet is called a trumpet player or trumpeter . The English word trumpet was first used in the late 14th century. The word came from Old French trompette , which is a diminutive of trompe . The word trump , meaning trumpet , was first used in English in 1300. The word comes from Old French trompe 'long, tube-like musical wind instrument' (12c.), cognate with Provençal tromba , Italian tromba , all probably from
3900-404: The trumpet's ability to play microtonally. Some instruments feature a fourth valve that provides a quarter-tone step between each note. The jazz musician Ibrahim Maalouf uses such a trumpet, invented by his father to make it possible to play Arab maqams . Valve tremolo : Many notes on the trumpet can be played in several different valve combinations. By alternating between valve combinations on
3965-462: The valveless, natural trumpet and the valved trumpet (also the cornet ) vied for position in the orchestra, with the valved trumpet establishing a permanent position only in the second half. Even as late as 1843, for example, Wagner was writing for valveless trumpets in his opera The Flying Dutchman . In modern-day performances of Baroque and Classical works by period orchestras, the trumpets used are usually altered copies of natural instruments of
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#17330856890724030-438: The valves indicated by the numbers below produces the written notes shown. "Open" means all valves up, "1" means first valve, "1–2" means first and second valve simultaneously, and so on. The sounding pitch depends on the transposition of the instrument. Engaging the fourth valve, if present, usually drops any of these pitches by a perfect fourth as well. Within each overtone series, the different pitches are attained by changing
4095-461: The way of melody. There were a few notable exceptions, such as Mozart 's Symphony No. 39 in E ♭ major, where the trumpets intone the main theme of the opening movement; Haydn 's Symphony No. 103 in E-flat major ("Drum Roll"), where the trumpets often outline the melody in all four movements; or Beethoven 's Symphony No. 9 in which the trumpets double the melody of the famous "Ode to Joy" in
4160-544: The wider and deeper the cup, the darker the sound and timbre. Modern trumpets have three (or, infrequently, four) piston valves , each of which increases the length of tubing when engaged, thereby lowering the pitch. The first valve lowers the instrument's pitch by a whole step (two semitones ), the second valve by a half step (one semitone), and the third valve by one and a half steps (three semitones). Having three valves provides eight possible valve combinations (including "none"), but only seven different tubing lengths, because
4225-547: The word doodle . This is a very faint tonguing similar in sound to a valve tremolo. Glissando : Trumpeters can slide between notes by depressing the valves halfway and changing the lip tension. Modern repertoire makes extensive use of this technique. Vibrato : It is often regulated in contemporary repertoire through specific notation. Composers can call for everything from fast, slow or no vibrato to actual rhythmic patterns played with vibrato. Pedal tone : Composers have written notes as low as two-and-a-half octaves below
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