Jimi Michiel

Ed makes a good point, sharp keys = happier strings. (I always bring a C trumpet to the local blues jam because I'm always outnumbered by guitarists who never learned flat keys)

Peter Chapman mentioned once that when he first got to Boston, he got a call to play the Hummel with on of the local orchestras. He doesn't have perfect pitch, so it was quite a surprise for him when he discovered that the orchestra had E parts and he had an E-flat trumpet. The concert was that night. He spent the rest of the afternoon learning it on D trumpet.

-Jimi

B15M

I've played the second movement with the E-flat version in church and had the organist comment on the key. I was told that it would be better for the organ if I played it in E

patdublc

I too, like the sound of the Hummel better in E. As far as horns go, I have a Schilke G1L. A few months ago, I shipped the horn to Schilke and had them fit an optional E bell to the horn. It's wonderful. I keep looking for excuses to play this horn because it is so nice.

I used it in a local production of Beauty and the Beast for the Entr'acte - just for fun. The clarinet player almost fell out of his chair. He turned around and said "What horn was that? The sound is incredible." I took that as a compliment as this guy has known my playing for 20+ years. Maybe, it's all been bad and I finally played something right........lol....

But, as far as my E trumpet goes, I can't say enough good things about the workmanship and care that Schilke put into the project. Pat Hund, from Schilke, called me several times to discuss the status. Awesome.

pat

Johntpt

Pat-

Sounds like a great bell! Just curious - how much did it cost and which dealer did you use??

JU

GordonH

Hardenberger recorded it on a C trumpet.
IMO it is easier to play it in E on a C trumpet than in E on an E trumpet.

You can download it here and try it:

Gordon Hudson: Free trumpet sheet music

bagmangood

I was talking about back when it was first played on natural-ish trumpets, my memory is a little fuzzy because didn't the original player have a special horn with one key (could play in Eb/E whatever he did but also could change like a valve)?

but thanks for the link :)

trumpetnick

The concerto was never intented to be played on a nat, as it is simply impossible. The trumpet used back then was called klappentrompete (key trumpet).

bagmangood

I know it would be difficult, possibly impossible on a natural, but my point was about back then was his (klappentrompete) in E or Eb or did have both and have a case that looked like a modern player with 15 horns in it?

GordonH

The keyed trumpet had crooks which allowed you to change the pitch.

However, my understanding was that the Hummel concerto was definitley in E but when it was rediscovered it was pushed into Eb to make it easier to play on a Bb trumpet. I thought Ernest Hall had something to do with this (the version published by Boosey and Hawkes very early in the 20th century, well before Edward Tarr).

ecarroll

Gordon,

I've heard the same and believe it to be true. The publishing houses, even Boosey, are focused sales, not historical documents (and Hummel wasn't exactly around to veto the idea)

Cheers,
EC