An American in Paris

trumpetdon · 05-23-2005, 01:59 AM

Manny,
What do you use for the "felt crown" in this piece? I know a Crown Royal bag is a common choice, I may have to borrow one from those who drink! I tried a "BB mutes" felt cover and it didn't really enhance the passage any. I have tried all sorts of things from around the house and always prefer the solo open!
Thanks for any tips on this.
Don

trumpetmike · 05-23-2005, 03:44 AM

I found the cheap alternative to this a couple of years ago when someone put a santa hat over my bell, whilst playing carols - I loved the sound, but I'm not sure it would look the part.

Manny Laureano · 05-23-2005, 08:12 AM

The felt crown of a hat is a very distinctive sound and quite beautiful. I used to do the Crown Royal bag also but I have to say that when I play American in Paris I usually just do it open. However, Concerto in F really needs the felt crown, I think.

Playing AIP open is just an influence of hearing Mr. Vacchiano play it on that old Columbia recording w/ Bernstein. His open trumpet just seems right. And, yes, I know he swings it during the fast section and it's inappropriate for the time it was written, blah, blah, blah... but A) that was Bernstein's call and B) it's damned good!

Anyways, if it says felt crown on a part see if you can go to the thrift store, buy an old felt hat for a buck, cut off the brim, and bingo... you've got yourself a felt crown. Some folks cut holes in it to get a little more volume, whatever. Experiment!

ML

trickg · 05-23-2005, 09:46 AM

I like it! It's kind of like a plunger mute for playing big band or big band style arrangements. You can purchase specifically made "mutes" from different makers that are made with the idea of a plunger mute in mind, but I got my plunger for $1.25 at a grocery store, unscrewed the stick and cut a hole in the middle and voila! Cheap, but all that I need. (Note - the hole in the middle seems to help with both sound and intonation, and it was what the rest of the section had done.)

murph66 · 05-23-2005, 12:29 PM

One of our section players bought a plunger at the hardware store- They gave him one with a red plunger and he got a rather strange look when he asked if they had a black one-
Incidently, I played this solo at a concert Saturday night and played it open. I had rehearsed it both ways and decided I liked it better that way.

05-23-2005, 01:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
trumpetdon New Friend Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 11	An American in Paris Manny, What do you use for the "felt crown" in this piece? I know a Crown Royal bag is a common choice, I may have to borrow one from those who drink! I tried a "BB mutes" felt cover and it didn't really enhance the passage any. I have tried all sorts of things from around the house and always prefer the solo open! Thanks for any tips on this. Don
trumpetdon New Friend Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 11

05-23-2005, 09:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
trickg Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland Posts: 2,054	I like it! It's kind of like a plunger mute for playing big band or big band style arrangements. You can purchase specifically made "mutes" from different makers that are made with the idea of a plunger mute in mind, but I got my plunger for $1.25 at a grocery store, unscrewed the stick and cut a hole in the middle and voila! Cheap, but all that I need. (Note - the hole in the middle seems to help with both sound and intonation, and it was what the rest of the section had done.)
	__________________ Patrick Gleason email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com "What we do in life echoes in eternity" "At my signal, unleash hell." - Maximus Decimus Meridius

05-23-2005, 12:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
murph66 New Friend Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 37	One of our section players bought a plunger at the hardware store- They gave him one with a red plunger and he got a rather strange look when he asked if they had a black one- Incidently, I played this solo at a concert Saturday night and played it open. I had rehearsed it both ways and decided I liked it better that way.
murph66 New Friend Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 37

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05-23-2005, 03:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
trumpetmike Forte User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Farnham (a place too smal Brand: Whatever works Posts: 1,202	I found the cheap alternative to this a couple of years ago when someone put a santa hat over my bell, whilst playing carols - I loved the sound, but I'm not sure it would look the part.

05-23-2005, 08:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Manny Laureano Utimate User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA Posts: 5,989	The felt crown of a hat is a very distinctive sound and quite beautiful. I used to do the Crown Royal bag also but I have to say that when I play American in Paris I usually just do it open. However, Concerto in F really needs the felt crown, I think. Playing AIP open is just an influence of hearing Mr. Vacchiano play it on that old Columbia recording w/ Bernstein. His open trumpet just seems right. And, yes, I know he swings it during the fast section and it's inappropriate for the time it was written, blah, blah, blah... but A) that was Bernstein's call and B) it's damned good! Anyways, if it says felt crown on a part see if you can go to the thrift store, buy an old felt hat for a buck, cut off the brim, and bingo... you've got yourself a felt crown. Some folks cut holes in it to get a little more volume, whatever. Experiment! ML

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