Which one Bb/A piccolo or Eb/D Trumpet

[bebop]

This is for all of you legit players out there. I was asked to play some pieces written in D . Should I look at getting a Bb/A piccolo and play the D part on the A piccolo side. Or, get an Eb/D trumpet? Which one will I use more in the future?

[MichaelM2]

I'd go for the picc. Most of the literature for D can be played on a picc, you'll need a C or D if you'll be playing and second or third parts.

Mike

[stevesf]

I think it's more about the sound of a Bb/A picc.
Eb/D trumpets still sound closer to a C or even Bb trumpet than a proper picc does.
Depending on the style of music you would use the horn for most might sway your decision.

In some larger orchestral works the bigger Eb/D will blend better with the rest of the section yet will sparkle more on top if desired. Some players use this horn for picc parts in larger works too , as they feel it projects more comfortably within the soundscape of more modern works.

For baroque type music the sound of a proper Bb/A is most desired. It sounds closer to the horn the music was originally written for. (natural trumpet in the upper tessitura)
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Steve Shults

Yamaha 6310Z - Bb Trumpet
Bach Strad 229/25H - C Trumpet
Yamaha 631 (rose brass) - Flugel
Warburton 4 series mouthpieces
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Know Music, Know Life....No Music, No Life

[Jerry]

Picc

[Craig Swartz]

I've got a nice Schilke Eb/D but haven't touched it much over the past 35 years or so, which is about the time I bought my first pic. Your situation may be different but I'd bet the majority would be doing wedding gigs and the like, much easier for me on pic.

[Nonsense Eliminator]

Which pieces? Not all music for D trumpet is Baroque...
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Richard Sandals
NBO

[bagmangood]

If its orchestral you might not need a new trumpet (sorry)

I often play parts in D on my C trumpet (or Bb sometimes) as that is what is really needed for by the part. If its a baroque type piece then I'd try to get my hands on a picc
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More than one trumpet
A "few" mouthpieces

[bebop]

It's the JS Bach Christmas Oratorio, and I'm playing the 2nd part.

[Brian Moore]

I've never quite worked out why the G/F picc isn't more popular. I've got one of the old Selmer ones, and sound-wise it sits nicely between the Eb/D and Bb/A, and on the G side your fingers end up playing in G or F major, depending on whether it's trumpet in D or C written. I love the Selmer to bits.

[MichaelM2]

I'd probably go for a D trumpet for a second part.

Mike

[s11141827]

An Eb/D Trumpet might work better so you can play the part as written, but to further emulate a Baroque trumpet you need something like a Flumpet Mouthpiece
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I play various instruments & Sing.

[spitvalve]

I did the whole Messiah first part once on a D trumpet. I did not own a piccolo at the time. Never again. It was a clam bake of the first order, in spite of it being a very high quality D trumpet (Schilke E3L).

One of the violinists came up to me after the gig, and, trying to be nice, said, "I think trumpet must be a very hard instrument to play."

I like to believe I would have survived much better with a piccolo.
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Bryan Fields
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1991 Bach LR180 ML 37S
1999 Getzen Eterna 700S
1977 Getzen Eterna 895S Flugelhorn
1969 Getzen Capri cornet
1995 UMI Benge 4PSP piccolo trumpet
Warburton and Stomvi Flex mouthpieces

[Ancientram]

In the long run, you'll get a lot more use out of the picc.

You'll probably find the picc a better fit for Bach's second parts; in my (very) humble opinion, the D is just right for Bach third parts.

Steve

[Shark01]

[dr_trumpet]

removed
_________________
Dr. Albert L. Lilly, III DM
Artist/Clinician for Vincent Bach Trumpets (Conn-Selmer)
Principal Trumpet, Hendricks Symphony (Avon, IN)
Arranger/Composer; Lilly Music

[abontrumpet]

Just a heads up, OP asked the question in 2011.

[huntman10]