TrentAustin

Hey guys,

I'm wanting to get into Baroque trumpet and was wondering what instrument should I start out on and what pitch tuning I should get? I don't want to spend a lot of money but will pay around 1000 or so for a decent axe.

I'm assuming that the D trumpets come in 440 and period pitch (415?) with crooks.

Thanks again,

Trent

camelbrass

Trent,

I'm not an expert but have spent a bit of time around guys who are. It seems that if you wish to dip your toes in the water 440 is the way to go unless you want to play it in a 'period' ensemble and C and D crooks are the first ones to get.

Most of the players I know play 4 hole instruments with lead pipes that take modern mouthpieces. Specialists use very different equipment...mainly no vents and 'period' mouthpieces with the instruments tuned to 415 hz.

It's worth looking out for a second hand Steve Keavey or Matthew Parker. There are of course lots of other makers but these are two that I've played and know are recommended by much better players than myself.

The sound is wonderful. Playing music that you're used to hearing on piccolo brings a totally new dimension to it. In the hands of a master trilling is taken to a totally new level. I spent some time last summer with Michael Laird (Phillip Jones, Academy of St Martins-in-the Field, English Chamber Orchestra and absolute gentleman) and once you've heard a great player do Brandenburg, Christmas Oratorio, Bright Seraphim etc on natural you'll never listen to those pieces on pic the same way again. Why do these guys make the incredibly difficult look so easy?

Be careful it's addictive though. You'll end up with a case full of tubes that looks like a plumbers offcut bin!!


Regards,


Trevor

stchasking

talk to the owner of the Schilke Company. He sells his line of Nauman natural trumpets. You can buy his book on how to make one. At one time he had a coarse on making a natural trumpet.

The teachers I know are Brian Goff and Leonard Candelaria.

ROGERIO

Trent,

I went through the same search and purchase 2 years ago.

I purchased both instruments (first one did not work out) through Barry at the Baroque Shop in North Carolina. He was fantastic in educating etc.

PM me and I'll relay my experiences...

I love playing the Nat now... and it had a lot to do with getting started correctly.

Rogerio

TisEkard

I would PM Ed Carroll, he will know

cornetguy

Actually the Db and Cb pipes that some manufacturers sell are the "old pitch" I am with you and want to learn that too when I can get an instrument. Don't forget Tarr wrote a series of books (3) on playing the natural trumpet. Try to play it without using the vent holes for a real challenge.

stchasking

I just thought of Niklas Eklund.

Niklas Eklund Trumpet

He lives in Canada. By a few of his CD's and enjoy the best of the natural trumpet.

I met Niklas in 1997. He was featured at the ITG conference that year.
He is one of the best.

rowuk

Trent,
I do have some tips:
1) forget the idea that the baroque trumpet has anything to do with what you now understand as "trumpet". It will also change your definition of trumpet once that you get comfortable!
2) It took me about 6 months before I started to get comfortable and 18 months until my audiences did.
3) I bought a Münkwitz three hole baroque trumpet with D, Db, C and Cb bows (you replace the back part of the trumpet for the various keys) and have just ordered a Bb bow that I need when playing Haydn for instance. It cost less than $2000 for everything. It really works for me. I think Barry Baugess sells them in the states - or you can order directly:
www.trumpetmaker.com * Historical brass instruments * Michael Münkwitz
Michael also has baroque trumpet building courses with Robert Barclay (CAN) and
Richard Seraphinoff
4) although not absolutely necessary, I did try a bunch of baroque mouthpieces and have to say that they make it MUCH easier to trill and tune. I now play a Klier 4C baroque mouthpiece with a very sharp rim.
5) the first six months I only used one hole for F and A. The other two I left closed and have added in the mean time when I play with groups using "modern" tempered scales.
6) like with any other instrument, you start with long tones, slurs and scales. You don't need any different books in the beginning, after a while you will want the books from Ed Tarr, Paul Plunkett and a couple of others.
7) This is the first step of becoming a well rounded trumpeter (I think it should be required for ANYBODY studying trumpet - even jazz!)
Congratulations on an excellent decision!
PM me if I can help further!

TrentAustin

Thanks everyone for the tips... I just love the sound of natural trumpet (cassone's sound from CV is burning in my ears...wow!) and think I could get a bunch of wedding gigs that way too!

Best,

T

ROGERIO

Trent,

Do call Barry at the Baroque Trumpet Shop in NC. Might not be a bad flight from Boston to get to play all the horns and mouthpieces he has available.

If you go with a vented LONG model, and you happen to have short arms like me ... make sure your wrist isn't so bent that it hurts after a while. I opted for a short model because of this and I'm much happier now. Also, if you can, don't go budget... Barry will guide you along... but the Egger Trumpets are glorious.

Best wishes,

Rogerio