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Originally Posted by misty.sj  I never played trumpet past high school. When I was in college playing French horn, we had to transpose viola parts, and walk uphill barefoot in the snow to school. (haha) I never understood why the trumpeters had like 4 - 5 instruments that they lugged around with them all the time! So please explain:
1. Cornet - I think this sounds like a trumpet but mellow-er, right? Or is that flugelhorn, a la Chuck Mangione? |
The cornet AND flugelhorn are members of the horn family with conical bores. They do sound mellower.
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Originally Posted by misty.sj 2. C Trumpet - This one totally confuses me. What is that 2-step transposition going to get you?? Is this so you can play flute parts without transposing? :) Or is there some harmonic reason? |
The higher pitched trumpets were designed to increase the security of playing, especially in symphonic settings. Transposition is generally no issue for a symphonic trumpet player regardless of pitch of instrument. The sound of the C is more liquid/creamy than a similar Bb
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Originally Posted by misty.sj 3. Piccolo vs Pocket Trumpet - OK as far as I can tell, a pocket trumpet looks almost like a normal trumpet, only compressed. A piccolo trumpet is 'mini.' I tried playing one once and could not get a sound out, even after having played French horn. I've never played or really been near a 'pocket trumpet'. |
The pocket trumpet is the same length as a normal trumpet, it is just wound tighter to make it more "portable". The piccolo trumpet is half the length of a standard trumpet and sounds an octave higher
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Originally Posted by misty.sj So please tell me what all these different horns are about! Oh, and what is the 4th valve on the 4-valve trumpets? Is this like the Bb key on a F/Bf horn? |
The 4th valve is just a 4th lower (like pressing the first and third valves). It is not like the french horns switch to a completely different pitched set of slides.