Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:30 pm Post subject: Cornet Versus Trumpet on Range
I have been playing a Blessing XL Cornet. My range tops out around D above high C. I played a friends trumpet and topped out a couple of notes nigher. It also felt like there was less pressure in the horn.
Is the trumpet by its nature going to offer more range than a cornet?
Arban wrote that high C was a limit that composers ought to respect. Has the manufacturing technology improved so much in 150 years that we should expect all players to work comfortably in the upper register?
Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 9343 Location: Heart of Dixie
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 1:40 pm Post subject:
On the same mouthpiece, I have about the same range on either. I tire out on cornet a bit faster up there, though. If you play cornet with a mouthpiece like a Wick or Curry BBC, though, there will be more of a difference in range and endurance, especially if you play trumpet on a fairly shallow mouthpiece. _________________ "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham
I wouldn't want to play big band lead on the equipment that Arban played on in the late 1800's! He was right, High C was plenty them especially on those cookie cutter rimmed deep V-cups they used to use.
Today he would probably stretch that range a bit higher.
I would never have guessed in a million years he was playing cornet, guess with the fanfares my brain just filled in the gaps for trumpet tone.
Any way you slice it, one of the monster players of all time. _________________ Since all other motives—fame, money, power, even honor—are thrown out the window the moment I pick up that instrument..... I play because I love doing it, even when the results are disappointing. In short, I do it to do it.” Wayne Booth
I believe Herbert Clarke spoke about playing routinely to double high C. We all know he was not a fan of the "devilish" trumpet either... _________________ “Breathe and play the first note with a beautiful sound.” –Allen Vizzutti
“Don't stop where I have, but go further." –Claude Gordon
I had a Grand Rapids cornet that was made in 1885. I had the same range but did notice my flexibility was better on cornet. I know that older cornets had a conical bore, my Yamaha Bobbby Shew Trumpet has a similar bore. I found the flexibility issue to be easier than my Olds Recording Model.
I don't know if modern day cornets are made the same as the old days. The Grand Rapids is the only cornet I have ever played. I don't own it any more.
In high school I had both and always used my cornet for upper register. It was easier to spot and the notes are easier to play. Same mouthpiece on both. The difference being I believe the trumpet was a ML bore while the cornet was a L bore. Both Bach instruments. I believe it will depend on the instrument.
Joined: 13 Feb 2017 Posts: 75 Location: United States
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: Cornet Versus Trumpet on Range
johnlanglois wrote:
I have been playing a Blessing XL Cornet. My range tops out around D above high C. I played a friends trumpet and topped out a couple of notes nigher. It also felt like there was less pressure in the horn.
Is the trumpet by its nature going to offer more range than a cornet?
Arban wrote that high C was a limit that composers ought to respect. Has the manufacturing technology improved so much in 150 years that we should expect all players to work comfortably in the upper register?
Thanks.
If everything else is equal,
such as using a trumpet versus cornet pair that looks identical
(Conn 40B versus Conn 40A, for example),
and using the same model mouthpiece,
then the only significant difference will be the smaller backbore within the smaller cornet mouthpiece shank.
That makes the cornet offer a little bit more resistance or support than a trumpet.
For some players, that extra resistance will help the upper register.
For other players that extra resistance will hinder the upper register. _________________ eddiejeffries@hotmail.com
I think Arban was taking into account the practical difficulties of the state of the art of instrument manufacturing of the day, the characteristics of typical contemporary mouthpieces - thin sharp rims and large throats, and maintaining the contemporary view of the cornet as being a lyrical instrument, not a fanfare instrument.
When I still had my uncle's cornet, I had the same range, irrespective of which instrument (cornet or trumpet) or which mouthpieces. _________________ King Super 20 Trumpet; Sov 921 Cornet
Bach cornet modded to be a 181L clone
Couesnon Flugelhorn and C trumpet
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