The Revolutionary Instrument, the Trumpet
Throughout the ages, styles, instruments, and concepts of music have changed very dramatically, but still the trumpet has survived them all. From Classical, to Jazz, to, Polka, to Latin, to Big Band, to small ensembles, to Opera, and Musicals. It is probably the most popular instrument of all time with talented musicians like Allen Vizzuti, Maynard Ferguson, Arturo Sandoval, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie, Doc Severinsen, Herbert L. Clarke, and Claude Gordon. All these virtuoso trumpeters lead the way for us next generation trumpet players. But where did it all begin?
The trumpet is an ancient instrument, its roots are found in drawings dating to 1500 BC by the Egyptians and the Teutonic tribes. No instrument has changed as much during its existence as these series of instruments. The prehistoric trumpet was 120 cm long and had a conical tube at one end measuring 10 cm in diameter, expanding to 26 cm at the other. The trumpet's basic design was a single, unvarying tube until the mid 1800s when slides and/or valves were added to make additional notes possible. Trumpets through history have been generally associated with either military or religious uses. It was used as battle cries into the depths of war and to make loud noises to potentially frighten the bewildered enemy. Because the style of war changed it soon lost its place on the battle field and was used more for ceremonies and signaling. The Renaissance brought improvements to trumpeters as they gained stature in royal courts and the instruments began to be used more for "musical" playing. Religious users of the instrument include the Romans, Tibetans, and Israelites, who allowed only priests to play the trumpet. The King James version of the Bible makes many references to the instrument, associating it with the voices of angels. The trumpet's popularity rose during the Baroque period, but declined through the early 1800s, as it grew too "courtly" and out of favor. The addition of slides and valves in the 1800s brought new life to the trumpet as it was used more frequently in orchestral writing. Some popular solo trumpet pieces include; The Artunian, The Hummel, The Hynd, Rhapsody in Blue, and The Sandoval.
In Gideon's Trumpet Anthony Lewis documents Clarence Earl Gideon's struggle for a lawyer, during an era where it was not necessary in the due process to appoint an attorney to those convicted.
Gideon’s Trumpet is the true story of a man named Clarence Earl Gideon, a semiliterate drifter who is arrested for burglary and petty theft. The book takes it’s readers back through one man’s moving account that became a constitutional landmark. Gideon’s Trumpet was written to recall the history behind the Gideon v. Wainwright court case and how it made such an enormous impact on United States law.
The Native American flute is the third oldest known musical instrument in the world, with bone flutes dating back over 60,000 years. The first instrument found were drums, then varies whistle were made. Over time, the instrument evolved with many different materials and shapes. And these difference and changes reflect the culture of that time. Virtually, flutes were used all types of hardwoods and softwoods in history.
The Baroque style of music was in prominence from the beginning of the 17th century until the mid-18th century. Some primary features of this style, particularly in the later years, include an emphasis on polyphonic textures and a continuity throughout the entire piece. Most compositions were created for specific events and sometimes written for particular instruments. (Kamien, 2015). The Trumpet Concerto for 2 Trumpets, composed by Antonio Vivaldi, is one example of these late Baroque style compositions and one we can use to analyze: the common elements, the overall effect, and the composer’s possible perspective.
Published in 1964, Gideon's Trumpet is based off a true story of one man's quest to be given the right to have a counsel appointed to him by the court. Constitution's Sixth Amendment declared he had a right to counsel and he fought hard to obtain justice. If Gideon didn't realize that he had a right to counsel, this case would have never been held and the legal sytem might still be the same today! Clarence Earl Gideon is a man that most Americans outside of the legal system, as well as within it, would not even recognize who he was. The author, Anthony Lewis, wanted this change and wanted the citizens of the United States to see the dramatic impact that the Gideon's case had on the legal system. Gideon felt like he was in an unfair situation and filled out a hand-written petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court. Lewis brings to life the story of the man behind the case, preserving an important piece that has forever changed the legal and social history.
Dizzy was the soloist and showman of his own big band which performed from 1946 to 1950. In 1953, someone accidentally sat on his trumpet. Due to this, the bell on the instrument is now titled upward at a 45-degree angle. Dizzy discovered that this new shape to his beloved instrument created an improved sound quality. From then on, he always incorporated this shape into his new trumpets.
Louis Armstrong was the first great trumpet soloist in jazz. His unmistakable trumpet and vocals allowed him to continue doing what he loved most, making people happy. Armstrong was loved by many people, whether they were white, Africa...
The way it is created is what brings man to believe that it has been around a while. “The didgeridoo is made from irregular eucalyptus tree branches or trunks, such as the stringybark and the woolybutt, about 3.25-5 feet long and has a conical bore that is hollowed by termites” (What is 1). Then it is completely sealed and the mouthpiece, made of beeswax, is molded on. Some of the designers will paint different tribal symbols and colors (usually bright colors) all along the sides of the horn to give it a more native look. The pitch of the didgeridoo depends on the length and shape it is made into. It is supposed to replicate the sounds of earth or nature. “The Aborigines would go out into nature and listen to these sounds and would try to play these sounds with as much accuracy as possible with the didgeridoo” (1).
trumpet or flute. It was the right hand corner that filled in the material during the rhythmic
The major classes of musical instruments used in the High and Late Renaissance include plucked strings, bowed strings, brass, double reeds, other winds, keyboards, and percussions (McGee, 1985). Lutes, drums, and trumpets were often used, but the instruments that were especially popular during the Renaissance include the bass viol, treble viol, viola, violin, tenor sackbut, cornetto, bass sackbut, curtal, tenor shawm, bass recorder, and harpsichord (McGee, 1985).
All types of music require musicians. In the H.R. (Harlem Renaissance), there were many who contributed to this new style of music known as jazz. These musicians all have their own style and form. Each of these styles has in some way influenced the evolution of jazz. Louis “Sachmo” Armstrong is recognized as the most famous trumpet player of all time.
Around the turn of the 20th century, the earliest fully documented jazz style emerged, centered in New Orleans, Louisiana. This city is often called the "cradle of jazz" ("History 101" 3). In this style, the trumpet carried the melody, the clarinet played showy countermelodies, and the trombone played rhythmic slides and sounded the root notes of chords or simple harmony. Below this basic trio, the tuba or string bass provided a bass line and drums the rhythmic accompaniment. New Orleans jazz was just the beginning of an entire sweep across the county.
This is a departure from the original baroque ensemble, tuning, and trumpet. Instead of a piano, a string ensemble would have accompanied the solo trumpet. The tuning used today is not what Torelli would have envisioned, as our modern tuning would have seemed quite sharp to him. The baroque trumpet originally had no valves and was (and is today) considered very demanding to play. Despite these differences, music played on a modern piccolo trumpet is as exciting to hear today as it was in the
The book America’s Musical Landscape starts by looking back to early North American Music from the American Indians, to the religious and non religious music of the European and African settlers. According to the book “Native American music was and is song, sometimes supported by instruments.”1 The Native American used different types of instruments to accompany their songs or chants such as the drums, flute and rattles. Like music for us today the Native Americans used music in all different aspects of their lives. The early European settlers br...
Mainly the West Africans used percussive instruments. These drums came in all sizes ranging from ten to twelve inches to ten to twelve feet. Their drums were made out of hollowed out logs and gourds with a tight skin over the hollow. They also used idiophones to make music. They used a variety of bells, castanets, gongs, and sometimes they made small xylophones or small pianos. Aerophones weren't as prevalent as the percussions or idiophones. Some explorers made small flutes, horns and trumpets from elephant tusks.