Lower Pitched Trumpets

[Mithosphere]

I've been wondering how much use lower pitched trumpets actually get in today's world?

Since I'm a tuba player, I can understand having a BBb or CC and a higher pitched F or Eb, or doubling on bass trombone or baritone/euphonium/bass trumpet. The issue I'm running into currently is trying to figure out how bass trumpets or lower pitched trumpets can be used on a more regular basis.

Is there music written for trumpet ensemble that include bass trumpets or tenor/alto/contra-alto trumpets?

Is there any particular reason that more players don't have a lower pitched trumpet?

And while I'm at it, given that I'm a tuba player, is Lars Gerdt the shop that makes a contrabass? Is there even a market, no matter how small, for a contrabass trumpet?

The reason I ask is that my bass trumpet would be better converted to a tenor or alto and I've been eyeing a contrabass in Eb (same length as Eb tuba).

[christophac7]

Well I know for the National Trumpet Competition, no horns are allowed to be pitched lower than modern Bb (A=440 or whatever it is now). But in my past orchestra concert I had two Berlioz pieces (From 'Damnation of the Faust') that had the original parts for Cornet in A, which I was able to play on my Cornet, which slides into A. Also, my understanding (after talking with trombone players).
The bass trumpet, etc. are usually played by Trombone players, who would much rather play trombone

So to sum up: Not much if it all, except in older music.
_________________
Bb: Carol Brass 6280H
C: Carol Brass 5020H
Eb: Carol Brass 7775
Picc: Carol Brass 7770
Cornet: Buescher Model 266 Custom
Flugel: CFL-6200-GSS-SLB
TorpedoBags® Student Artist

[shmo_joe]

Some Older trumpets have LP (Low pitch) letters stamped on the lead pipe.

I think these are similar to current Bd trumpets

[Mithosphere]

[nieuwguyski]

[shmo_joe]

There is a bass trumpet,
it looks like a valve trombone in trumpet wrap

[Mithosphere]

[shmo_joe]

Bass trumpets

http://www.wwbw.com/Bass-Trumpets-Trumpets.wwbw

[Crazy Finn]

[trumpetera]

Wagners 3rd trumpet parts are meant to be played on the F-trumpet (2:nd on Bb, and 1:st on Bb or C).

Wagners Bass trumpet (listen to the part in the Walkurie!), was actually an instrument pitched in Eb, just one whole step down from the F-trumpet.

Today, tromboneplayers seem to regard those parts as their "territory", playing them on a bass trumpet in Bb, wich makes the part a real feat to play- it is really high in the instruments tessitura at times!

When this is mentioned to trombonists, they gather in a ring, and starts a mumbling converstion frequently looking over their shoulders....

At the moment, we´re doing Tristan, and I play 3:rd trumpet and "tristan-trompete":



The F-trumpet really ads colour to the brass section, since it has almost the same bore as a normal rotary Bb but is that much longer, it becomes somewhat brassy and natural trumpet-like when played mf and upwards.

The 3:rd part is somewhat of a link between the trumpets and trombones, sometimes acting as 1st trombone, sometimes 3:rd trumpet and sometimes alone.

The part CAN be played on a Bb, so the F-trumpet is not there for range-reasons, but rather timbre dito.

After the initial shock with all the transpositions beeing completely different, I really enjoy playing it!

The wooden trumpet is a different story....
_________________
Principal trumpet Gothenburg Opera Orchestra
Bach LT 37 Bb (Mr. Findleys old)
Bach Mt Vernon 1957 Bb
Bach NY ML 1943 vintage Bb
Very old YTR-6335
Bach/Malone/Lechner C
Malone-Bach 229 C
H.Ganter Bb
Schagerl Wienna (older model) C
Parker Natural

[nieuwguyski]

[jcathey]

[quote="Mithosphere"]Is there any particular reason that more players don't have a lower pitched trumpet?[/quote]

Hel-[i]lo[/i], we're talking about [i]trumpet[/i] players here! Screech alto trumpet, anyone? :-)

Though I believe that playing original orchestral F/Eb (low) trumpet, or natural trumpet, [i]is[/i] playing a bit screech-ey, when compared to today's Bb axe. That said, I think a well-balanced trumpet choir could sound [i]very[/i] nice, if they tried and had some suitable music. Of the traditional SATB components we're already pretty well covered, in that Bb horns are readily available in three octaves, and the upper Eb horn is readily available. The lower Eb is not so much, but there are a few out there, and there's an obvious sad hole at the BBb level. All that exists, to my knowledge, is the contrabass flugelhorn (aka tuba). Or can a cimbasso be considered a BBb trumpet?

OTOH, nothing wrong with the traditional brass quintet, either. They sound pretty good.

I am myself trying to assemble a range of trumpets, as that does interest me and it's certainly easier than actually practicing my horn!

[GordonH]

The romantic repertoire is full of low E/Eb/F trumpet parts. Often the notes are too low for a Bb trumpet. You get rotary Eb trumpets in Europe for use in marching bands, but these are larger bore than the ones used in the 19th century. It costs serious money to buy a proper F orchestral trumpet. Thein make one I think. Occasionally restored original ones come up for sale. It might make more sense to have a 4 valve Bb trumpet, although the weight would be hard to handle.
_________________
Bb - Scherzer 8218W, Schilke S22, Bach 43, Selmer 19A Balanced
Pic - Weril
Flugel - Courtois 154
Cornet - Geneva Heritage, Conn 28A
Mouthpieces - Monette 1-5 rims and similar.

Licensed Radio Amateur - GM4SVM

[swingintrpt]

Thein is the only company that comes to mind as having an F trumpet available...can anyone out there think of ANYONE else, whose pricing is a little more affordable?
_________________
RJM
Examining the difference between
music and Music.

[Mithosphere]

[ghelbig]

Not much difference between a Drum & Bugle Soprano and a 'G' trumpet.

G.

[cheiden]

To the OP, it should be clear that the term "low pitch" trumpet almost always refers to "normal" trumpet optimized to play some fraction below A=440. A better term to avoid confusion might be "low key" trumpet.

I've played in an ensemble including a bass trumpet but I can't recall the work.

Here's a source for a couple of inexpensive bass trumpets.
http://www.wessex-tubas.co.uk/category/brass-2/trumpets/bass-trumpet/
How about a Flugabone?
http://www.wessex-tubas.co.uk/flugabone/

Here's a good thread about literature for trumpet in F and related subjects.
http://www.trumpetmaster.com/vb/f132/contr-alto-trumpet-f-38943.html
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[A_Ason]

http://gerdt.se/EN/instruments-Contra_Bass_Trumpets.aspx

[Mithosphere]

[pitchlevel]