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GordonH · 03-23-2008, 07:07 AM

[I just posted this on another forum as a response to someone elses comments, so I thought I would repost it here]

I just re-listened to the over 30 albums I have of his in chronological order and I have decided that his best years were 66 to 88 with 91 to 97 being a close second. Prior to 66 his sound was definitely thinner and brighter.

The reason I listened to them all again was to try and work out why I keep going back to his recordings and not those of all the other trumpet players I have. I finally realised why:

He is not just following a nice line of melody.
Each phrase he plays has its own internal structure and line to it.
Each note within the phrase is played purposefully rather than being a footnote to something more important thats coming up in the melody. Each note has its own internal shape of attack and vibrato and decay and this is different for every note depending on where it is placed in the melody and what its purpose is.

What I have learned from this is that each note is important not just the end of phrases or the big tunes. This has had an effect on my orchestral playing. Even in symphonies where there is hardly any trumpet part I am now very concious of making each note count.
I may only have three notes in a piece but I want them to have a purpose withing the overall orchestration.

"Make each note count" is my motto now.

03-23-2008, 07:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
GordonH Mezzo Piano User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 610	Maurice Andre [I just posted this on another forum as a response to someone elses comments, so I thought I would repost it here] I just re-listened to the over 30 albums I have of his in chronological order and I have decided that his best years were 66 to 88 with 91 to 97 being a close second. Prior to 66 his sound was definitely thinner and brighter. The reason I listened to them all again was to try and work out why I keep going back to his recordings and not those of all the other trumpet players I have. I finally realised why: He is not just following a nice line of melody. Each phrase he plays has its own internal structure and line to it. Each note within the phrase is played purposefully rather than being a footnote to something more important thats coming up in the melody. Each note has its own internal shape of attack and vibrato and decay and this is different for every note depending on where it is placed in the melody and what its purpose is. What I have learned from this is that each note is important not just the end of phrases or the big tunes. This has had an effect on my orchestral playing. Even in symphonies where there is hardly any trumpet part I am now very concious of making each note count. I may only have three notes in a piece but I want them to have a purpose withing the overall orchestration. "Make each note count" is my motto now. __________________ "O trumpeter, methinks I am myself the instrument thou playest, Thou melt'st my heart, my brain--thou movest, drawest, changest them at will;" (Walt Whitman)