Hags888

Hey Manny,

This question is semi-related to another thread that came up recently about associate vs assistant principal. In Shostakovich #1, which part is regarded as the "third" trumpet part (aka, the one the associate/assistant would play)? The parts are "tromba I & II in B[b]", and a "tromba in F (C-Alta)". I could see a situation where the principal player plays the F part, and then the second and third players gets the "trumpets I & II in Bb". I could also see a situation where the principal and second players takes "trumpet I & II in Bb" and then the 3rd player plays the "trumpet I in F" part.

Also, what does "C-Alta" mean?

The reason I am asking is because there is an audition that calls for an excerpt in the third trumpet part, and well...there isn't exactly a "third" trumpet part specifically. And, since I don't know the performing tradition in part assignments with this piece, I thought I'd ask. Thanks in advance!

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Manny Laureano

Thou art way over-thinking this.

I've never heard of a principal playing anything other than the 1st part on Shosty 1. The third player plays the F alta part and that's pretty much that.

The C-alta designation just means that instead of transposing up as most F parts are performed, you transpose in F but an octave lower. So, instead of up a fifth, you transpose down a fourth. Old-school Russian orchestration.

ML

Hags888

That's what I figured...just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

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Mikey

I believe you need to use a Bb trumpet, as it goes too low for C.

The individual shall remain nameless, but back when I was working on my Doctorate, we did Shosty 1 in orch, and the 3rd player was using a C trumpet. His F Alta transposition was not so good....

RG111

I recall doing it on C trumpet for the entire part. That was over 30 years ago, but I would think I would remember having to use a Bb. Possibly not.
Roy Griffin

Hags888

I am looking at the Tromba in F part right now...and there aren't notes that would require a Bb trumpet. The lowest note in the part is a concert Ab below the staff. However, there are some weird "divisi" parts in the fourth movement (definitely NOT cues) where none of the pitches are doubled in the other two trumpet parts...and I'm not sure what to make of those...do you normally do this with 4 players and double the F part? If you don't double, does the one player play the top or bottom part?

Again, I may be overthinking this, but damn...why are these parts so confusing?

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MrClean

To separate the men from the boys... Oh, I'm sorry - that was a rhetorical question.