tpter1

I got thinking this morning during and after my warm-up. Yesterday, Manny posted about his sound not being what he wanted during a warm-up sesion, and taking the time to ask himself "What do you want to sound like?" as a re-focusing and recovery strategy.

What is yours? What do you consider an ideal trumpet sound? How did you arrive at that concept (what/who influenced or influenced that concept the most)? This has been discussed before, but I feel it is becoming such an important issue I thought it necessary to bring it up for some of the newer folks who may not have had the opportunity to discuss it with us. Please chime in!

For me, it is a quality of warmth that surrounds or envelops you in sound. Rich, full, strong but not edgey; relaxed.

This concept was originally inspired when I heard Phil Smith, years ago, play Mahler 2. He was warming up ahead of time, just before the concert when everyone was on stage, with Clarke 2nd study. It just flowed; the notes were so connected and smooth it was like glass. Then he began working the hughe decrescendo on the high C. Huge, full attack faded to nothing; no loss of pitch center or tone quality, just a fade to absolute nothingness. Being young and not having ever seen the part before, I thought is was a G on top of the staff. My jaw nearly hit the floor when I realized what it actually was. Also, listening to Ed Carroll playing on a NY Trumpet Ensemble recording. Fluid, smooth, full, beautiful singing quality. Hearing Manny play on those Monette videos was really an eye opener for me; you can see how relaxed he is; how the horn is an extension of his body and mind; then hearing him with M.O. (even online in with RealAudio he sounds amazing) on Bolero and Mahler 3...clear, rich, ringing and commanding presence.

So, what is yours?

__________________
-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting