John P

http://www.dmamusic.org/tromba/endsleybrass.html

Scroll down to "brandenburg bell"

...Interesting, indeed...

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JP

Albert Castillo

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Albert A. Castillo

GordonH

Seems an odd idea just for one note.

John P

I'd say so too. The excerpt book I have (Norris) suggests that you take the fourth valve slide out for that purpose, but I'm kinda surprised that someone would actually make a bell for it.


The "bell" looks kinda like a harmon mute stem

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JP

jpetrocelli

I played brandenburg with the brandenburg bell when I was an undergrad at hartt. My teacher at the time (Roger Murtha) had one and let me use it. I got the same effect with the slide just pulled out, he however thought it was louder with the bell. It was ppretty funny I thought.

Mzony

You know, it looks like a cheap gimick, but I have played the Brandenburg a couple of times and I use a version of it...but not made by Endsley. I did find it projected a little better, and I the one I have has a bit of tuning and I was able to kind of position it for optimal tuning for that note. I suggest trying it out if you are to play the piece.

Mike

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Zony

rowuk

I think Bach made this piece difficult on purpose so that only a few could succeed. He could have written it in D or C or even an octave lower to make it more playable, but he didn't. The voices match perfectly on baroque instruments.
I think players should not cheat. Good technique is good technique. If somebody doen't have the high chops, play it on a sopranino saxophone - it is easy to learn and the question doesn't come up why you have to cheat to get there..........
Check this out:
http://helix-1.sri.ch/ramgen/tsi/vod...ncertoN2_hs.rm

or for low speed connections
http://helix-1.sri.ch/ramgen/tsi/vod...ncertoN2_lw.rm

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

Mzony

I don't view using the bell as cheating...I don't have problems playing the hight a. However, removing the slide, the sound doesn't resonate, with the slide I play it slightly flat...or really sharp depending on the fingering. Why not use a tool that will help place the note right where you want it? I don't see how that is cheating.
That bell isn't going to make the A "pop" out on its own. You still need the chops to play it...Much like getting a shallower mouthpiece isn't going to give you a reliable added fifth to your range, it may only facilitate some greater ease in some various playing situations. I view the use of this bell the same way I view playing a shallower mouthpiece for certain situations.
Mike

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Zony

Albert Castillo

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Albert A. Castillo

Mzony

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the argument. Do you think this bell just makes the A happen? This is not the case. Do you have different mouthpieces to play different parts? Perhaps a lead piece for commercial things? Maybe a deep conical mouthpiece for rotary and or really soft entrances? Or maybe you have a special mouthpiece to play the picc? Perhaps you have a very special mouthpiece to play pieces like the Brandenburg or other pieces like the Luigi Otto?
Many players I know who play the Brandenburg use a special mouthpiece specific for their needs on that piece. Let me clarify, I can play the A...its not in tune on my instrument...This bell allows me to adjust it to my satisfaction....Many players I know would call this being savy, and not wimpy.

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Zony