Denis Wick D/Eb cup mute on C trumpet

[trpthrld]

Some of you might remember that I'm a big fan of using the DW D/Eb straight mute as a pixie mute. To my ears, it most closely replicates the sound of a true pixie / "nipple" mute that are extremely rare and very expensive.

Recently I did a production of "West Side Story" and thought I would try some of the cues on C trumpet. Gotta say - a bunch of them are much easier to play on C. Credit where credit is due - this came from a student at Montclair State U. in New Jersey who played C on their production of WSS earlier this year.

Some of the cues I played called for cup mute. I am a big believer in that even though you might choose a different trumpet to play certain things that the mute sound should be as similar as possible. The reason for that is the pit expects to hear a consistent sound from the 1st Trumpet, no matter what horn & mute combination they opt to use.

Before I go further, y'all should keep in mind that when composers/orchestrators/arrangers mark something in cup mute, the sound they hear in their head is that of a H&B Stone Line Cup (unless otherwise marked).

I tried my regular H&B Stone Lined cup in my C...and it didn't fit. Tried my DW adjustable cup, and even though it fit...just didn't sound the same as on a Bb horn. Didn't matter where I had the cup placed, I simply could not replicate the Bb horn + cup sound.

Figured I'd try the DW D/Eb. Perfect. Sounded almost exactly like a Bb & cup.

Yes, I know there's a timbre difference between Bb & C. My goal was to minimize that as much as possible, and by experimenting with different mutes, I attained that goal.

So if nothing else, this could be another reason to justify adding another mute to your personal mute arsenal!
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Tim Wendt

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[Tpt_Guy]

Thanks​ for the tip! A number of E flat players get C trumpet bells fitted or the horns come that way (as in the Bach Eb and D horns) so it makes sense.

How was intonation?
_________________
-Tom Hall-

"A good teacher protects his pupils from his own influence."
-Bruce Lee

[trpthrld]

[RandyTX]

Yes, large parts of WSS are easier on the C trumpet. Makes some horrific key/fingering combos very negotiable. I need to get one of those little mutes to play with and try out. Been meaning to since you first mentioned it as a better pixie.
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"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away."

[dr_trumpet]

My Wick Eb/D cup mute will not fit in any of my C trumpet bells...too small for all of them. It doesn't even work on my E3L-4, again the bell is too open and the mute too small for that bell. The only bell mine fits is my E3L, and then since my D bell is the orchestral bell, it fits only the Eb bell.

What bell and C trumpet do you use?

I have a Bach with a 229 bell. The corks on the mute have never been filed.

Thanks for your answer!

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

[trpthrld]

[Mike Lockman]

Interesting. I never thought of that. I will give it a try. Thanks
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All Bach Strad
AFM 60-471
Phi Mu Alpha

[dr_trumpet]