Reflections

Let's just call it a Quintet of Polished Brass Reflections.

Thanks, Jen, for the great photo work!!

Some Things to Take Note Of

I was on a roll the other day and decided to look up some trivia about my favorite musical instrument- the trumpet. So here goes:

In the Baroque era, trumpeters formed a guild that provided them with privileges above and beyond that of other musicians. The guild had rules regulating who could play trumpet, where they could play, and for whom they could play for. The members guarded their rights jealously and were in constant conflict with unguilded trumpeters.

A trumpet may seem short and compact when compared to larger brass instruments, such as the trombone, but this small instrument contains roughly 6 1/2 feet of tubing. That’s taller than the average human being, yet the instrument can fit comfortably in your hands.

The trumpet may only have three valves, but you can actually play 45 distinct notes by manipulating those valves.

Before 1815, music written for trumpet was intended to be played by the natural trumpet. This ancestor to the modern trumpet had no valves. This meant that the natural trumpet player was limited to about seven notes. However, the comfortable range on a modern trumpet can span almost three octaves (about 18 notes)

I would be remiss if I didn't also include what may be the two most common (and untrue!!) trumpet jokes:

How many trumpet players does it take to change a light bulb?
None, because the world revolves around them!

How do trumpet players traditionally greet each other?
"Hi. Nice to meet you. I'm better than you."

Here's a "video" that features what many consider the first great trumpet solo by Pops- Louis Armstrong- West End Blues

And one of the great solo performances in this video from Mark Baud and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band:

The Better Option

To be a musician is a curse. To not be one is even worse.

-Jazz trumpeter Jack Daney

quoted in The Late Starters Orchestra by Ari Goldman

Polished Brass Quintet in Recital

Here's the first video from our recital last weekend. It is an arrangement for brass quintet of the theme from "The Godfather" arranged for us by Eric Straubmuller.

Music For Your Monday Enjoyment

Last Monday evening our Polished Brass Quintet played at the Mayo Clinic Addiction Services 40th Anniversary Dinner. We were honored - and had a great time. I recorded the performance and have posted this video of our opening number. Since we weren't playing as a recital or concert, there is background noise which I tried to minimize, so I had to do some sound manipulation. I hope you enjoy it.

Blowing My Own Horn

Not to be too blatant about it, but here are a couple videos that I have posted on my You Tube Channel. The first is of our Rochester Big Band performing at a local senior housing complex about 10 days ago. I can't resist pointing out that the trumpet solo in the piece is by yours truly. (Humble trumpet players are hard to find.) There's actually a back story about being a soloist, but I will save that for another day.



The second video is of the Polished Brass Quintet playing last Sunday at Berea Moravian Church near St. Charles, MN. It is Handel's Fanfare from "Water Music." Enjoy them both.