[TPIN] Cornet Question- Historical

[MikeSpengl at aol.com]

My friend and big band colleague (a bone player) who is BIG on  historical 
instruments/recordings proudly showed off pix of an antique cornet he  recently 
acquired. Then turned to me and asked: "Why did they consider having a  cornet 
also pitched in A important back then?" I realized I just plain didn't  
know...
 
   Looked through Ed Tarr's book, so I know his take on the  "cornet vs. 
trumpet" issue. And Berlioz features some A cornet parts. I got my  old Conn Bb/A 
as a way of 'shedding L'Histoire on the original instrument in its  original 
called-for pitch, but L'Histoire wasn't the cause of makers to ensure  that it 
could play in A. 
 
   So... his/my question remains: Why did folks back then  consider having 
the dual pitch of Bb/A to be important? 
 
   Thanks for any & all  replies....                  Mike Spengler



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