[TPIN] Re: TPIN Bb/A instruments

[John Cather]

I'm with you on this Graham. Besides making things easier to play, the  
sound of the extra tubing makes the trumpet darker and I think a  
better fit for a lot of the music. The blow is different enough that  
you need to practice. In orchestras, I change trumpets to fit the  
music and the brass section I'm playing in. Unfortunately, it makes  
for a lot of inventory of instruments - and - you have to practice  
them all!...nuts.

Eb and C clarinets may be squeaky, but trumpets are not necessarily  
so. I have Eb and C trumpets that blend with typical Bb trumpets.

I agree with Lawler that a trumpet built in A is better, but most  
would probably be happy with a set of slides in A.

Cheers,
John Cather

On Feb 3, 2008, at 2:00 PM, "Graham Young" <gjyoung at mountaincable.net>  
wrote:

> Having the ability to change to A can make passages that are awkward
> relatively easy.
>
> Sharp keys that are easy for string players are awkward for Bb brass.
> A passage in A major that would be in B for Bb is in C on an A
>
>
> A passage in Berlioz's Damnation of Faust march is very easy in A  
> but a
> finger twister in Bb
>
> Similarly the Light Cavalry Overture in A is much simpler and  
> sonorous.
>
> I have 2 Bb/A rotary trumpets and it is very interesting to play in  
> A as
> opposed to Bb. YOU can simply take these A parts and play them
>
> Carmen prelude is simple and no problem on a trumpet in A ( or low F)
>
> I am surprised that makers do not offer slides to change to A
> I think they would be popular. I would certainly want a set.
>
> You can pull a tuning slide down to A but the valve slides are out  
> then.
>
> Perhaps it is related to the tyranny of the C trumpet. ( I won 4 of  
> these
> and use them when they suit the work played)
>
> I think we have lost something here.
>
> Any decent clarinet player has an A Clarinet. Is it possible they are
> smarter than trumpeters? I have never seen a clarinet player play an A
> clarinet part on a C clarinet. I asked one about that and he said he  
> really
> did not like C clarinet as the tone gets too shrill. He really  
> doesn't like
> Eb clarinet for the same reason.
>
> As an orchestral librarian there are large numbers of works that are  
> for
> Clarinet in A are also for trumpet in A.
>
> Roy Lawler told me that Bb/A switches are difficult to keep both in  
> tune.
> He said his choice as a maker would be to build in A by itself.
>
> I think if that a really well built A trumpet could be popular  
> especially
> for 2nd and 3rd trumpet parts where C or Bb transposing makes for very
> awkward parts. If you think about it an A trumpet also can make E  
> trumpet
> Parts a far simpler transposition.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Graham J. Young B.Mus. B.Ed.