brassmachine19

Going to be playing this piece with the orchestra at my university later on in the semester and I'm trying to get a head start on it. I've been listening to the London Symphony play it. Please correct me if I am wrong, but there are 2 trumpet parts and 1 cornet part? Some of the questions I have are:

What seat should play each part?
What horns are required for each part?
Any specific recordings I should specifically listen to?

We have an interim conductor for this school year that isn't too with it and want to make sure everything is in order.

Thanks for your help guys and gals, I don't know why I don't post on here more often, such a cool place.

cornetguy

The principal should play the cornet part (ideally on Bb cornet) The regular second shoudl play Trumpet 2 and the 3rd or assistant principal shoudl play the first trumpet. Most of the playing is in the cornet and second trumpet. The first trumpet doesn't have a lot other then in the Birth of Kije and the Burial of Kije. The two trumpet parts can be played on either Bb or C. Also the two trumpet parts need straight mutes.

Recordings. I like the Saint Louis on Vox Box with Slatkin, also Ormandy recorded it in Philadelphia.

Hope this helps

martromba

You should check out the just released Cincinnati Recording with Mark Ridenour playing the cornet part.

Jimi Michiel

brassmachine19-

Lt. Kije is a real gem. Here are some thoughts, specifically for the first cornet part:

-Definitely play it on cornet. Bb or C works, but I prefer a good C cornet if you can find it

-practice the fanfares with a concert D drone. You're all alone on these, so playing with, and then trying to remember the tonic will really help with intonation.

-Get into character!!! This is probably the most important thing to remember when playing something like Lt. Kije. The whole thing is really tongue-in-cheek. There are seven bar phrases where there should be eight bar phrases, abrupt key changes that could have been taken from third rate musical theatre (but are incredibly effective) and even a saxophone solo! Prokofiev had the best musical sense of humor since Haydn. For the solo in the Wedding movement, really press on the tenutos. You'll want to make it beautiful, but that's not what Prokofiev writes... Think hurdy-gurdy...

Just a couple of thoughts. More than anything else, enjoy!

-Jimi

bachstrad72

Not to contradict what everyone has said, this is just what works for me. I play the off stage stuff on D trumpet with a cornet mouthpiece and the on stage stuff on Bb. Have fun, that is such a great piece!!

Toshi

something to keep in mind if you don't have a cornet handy that you're fond of: i have performed Lt. Kije on a B flat with a funnel-cup mouthpiece.

brassmachine19

funnel-cup meaning v-cup or just a deeper cup in general? i think that's what i'm going to end up doing, can't find a decent cornet and not ready to drop the money to buy one.

Toshi

Funnel as in V cup. Intonation on such pieces is... different