signboydan

Greetings all,
I am a new member. I am a comeback player who stopped playing in the 9th grade (some 25 years ago). I have been playing very consistently for the past 5 years, and will be performing "A Trumpeter's Lullaby" with my local Concert Band (Huntington Beach Concert Band).

My question is: Is this piece supposed to be played Single-tounged or Double-tounged? I saw post in here somewhere that said it was to be double-tounged, but I thought it was supposed to be single-tounged. I can definitely play it quicker double-tounged, but I want to be sure I'm doing it correctly.

Any info or advice would be appreciated (positive or negative).

Thanks,
Dan

stchasking

Leroy wrote the piece to be double tongued.
Double tongue any time you find the need. There are no rules.
I use a book by Goldman for double tongueing. There are many available so choose one and go with it. Start slow. When I start over after a layoff I play the exercises using KU for all notes and work up to a higher speed. Then I switch to the TU Tu Ku or Tu Ku Tu Ku. Slow and steady wins the race.

I have the Al Hirt version of A Trumpeters Lullaby on vinyl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Trumpeter's_Lullaby
http://leroyanderson.com/la-mp3/trumpeters-lullaby.mp3

I also keep Concert Etude on my music stand to test my double tonguing.
I have a copy of Buglers Holiday handy to test D tonguing and endurance.

I'll brag a little. When I was in high school I had my copy of Buglers Holiday autographed by Leroy Anderson.

signboydan

Thanks for the quick reply! We are having a Leroy Anderson Centennial Celebration Concert this summer. I know Bugler's Holiday is definitely double-tounged, but I wasn't sure about A Trumpeter' Lullaby. I will work on it. Nice job on getting your Bugler's Holiday copy Autographed!

Has anyone else out there heard of this being single-tounged?

Thanks,
Dan

signboydan

Perhaps if I could spell tongue correcly, I might play better....

Jimi Michiel

Dan-

It's not whether it was written to be double or single tongued--it's what you have to do physically to achieve your musical goal. Ideally, the listener should not be able to tell (or even want to think about) what physically process you employed to produce the sound.

On a side note--this piece was written to be the anti-trumpet-solo trumpet solo. I hear it as almost sentimental and even nostalgic. If you do double tongue it, don't think of it as a fanfare.

-Jimi

signboydan

Jimi,
Thanks for the info. If I do double-tongue it, I'm just doing it to keep the 16th notes short and staccato. Otherwise, I play it very melodically.
Thanks,
Dan

rowuk

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!!!!!!!!

wiseone2

The music will tell you.
The sixteenth notes lead to the next eighth note. Movement, think of the gesture. There is also a small crescendo in the gesture. I don't like hearing static playing. The Trumpeter's Lullaby should have motion.
Wilmer

premierbrass.org

Double-tongue.
Leroy wote it for Roger.
Members Only (Password access)

tpetplyr

Staccato is not equal to short. Keep them light and give them a lilt, if you will, but don't aim for 'shortness'. It will make the performance choppy and will destroy the lyricism elsewhere in the line. He marked them staccato so they would be distinctly articulated. They should sound the same single or double tongued. Play the piece around half note = 60 (as marked) and tongue it the way that sounds the best. If you want to play short staccato notes, play some Stravinsky.

Mini-rant (to band directors):
Staccato is not short.
Making the brass play shorter does not make them play more together.
Making the brass play shorter does not make them play faster and with better tempo.
Staccato is not short!!
End mini-rant.

Stuart