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wehip Regular Member
Joined: 11 Sep 2019 Posts: 20
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:34 pm Post subject: Curry BBC in Wind Band?? |
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Has anyone tried using a Curry BBC mouthpiece for cornet parts in symphonic wind band? I recently received one and although I had thought I was receiving a DC instead, I am finding the BBC to be a perfect match for my Yamaha short cornet. Everything just seems to work so well - tone, feel, endurance, range. I don’t have any wind band engagements coming up (still on pandemic hiatus, sadly), but I’m just wondering if anyone has had specific results using this mouthpiece for solo cornet parts, Alfred Reed parts, dare I say Sousa marches, etc. in band. |
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deleted_user_687c31b New Member
Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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If it works well for you, why wouldn't it work in an orchestral setting? The only things I can think of are either lack of volume (for the fortissmo parts) or a radically different sound that makes it hard to blend in (for the non-solo bits). Do you feel either of those apply? |
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zaferis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Nov 2011 Posts: 2327 Location: Beavercreek, OH
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:51 am Post subject: |
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Definitely a different tone color.
The issue would be how it compares to the others in your section and the color that the enemble wants outfront / projection.
Most "modern" bands/practices have lost the ear for the Cornet color, not to mention that most (I think) trumpet players don't want to play cornet, and the ones that do, don't truly apporach it with a cornet sound.
I've been playing in a Brass Band for a number of years, and I can tell you that I love my BBC, but is much more "British" is sound than what most of the other cornets in that band - I generally go back to the DC. to blend (I still sound more "cornetty" than most).
Mine is currently only used for solo work, or small ensemble (brass 4-tet, 5-tet). _________________ Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman |
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Dale Proctor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 9363 Location: Heart of Dixie
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 6:41 am Post subject: |
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If you have a wind band with people playing cornets on the cornet parts and trumpets on the trumpet parts, then yes, it would be great. If you’re trying to play a cornet with the BBC mouthpiece in a section of trumpets, then no, you won’t even be able to hear yourself.
I’ve played in a wind band with the proper instrumentation on cornet and trumpet parts exactly ONE time in my experience, and it was an eye opening experience. Those of us on the cornet parts were also members of a brass band, so the cornet/trumpet tone difference was fairly pronounced. _________________ "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham |
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Crazy Finn Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2001 Posts: 8333 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 9:50 am Post subject: |
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Basically, what all these posts say.
I've dabbled in more cornet pieces back when I played with a brass septet that used brass band instrumentation. I had to work pretty hard to make the solo parts be heard with the more deeper, authentic-style pieces. My band mates complained that the melody lines were getting buried, so I usually played on a less cornet-like piece.
I do have a naturally mellow, cornet tone, even with a 3C, though. So, there you go... _________________ LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn |
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AJCarter Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 1280 Location: Indiana
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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hibidogrulez wrote: | If it works well for you, why wouldn't it work in an orchestral setting? The only things I can think of are either lack of volume (for the fortissmo parts) or a radically different sound that makes it hard to blend in (for the non-solo bits). Do you feel either of those apply? |
Orchestral and wind band settings are somewhat different, but present the same challenge that Crazy Finn noted: being heard over the group. In orchestra there are typically only two individual cornet parts. In wind groups they usually are doubled.
Part of this is maybe not using traditional mouthpieces but the other part is not using British styled cornets. More orchestral, long style cornets are (supposed to be) designed to cut more than the short British style ones. This plus a complementary mouthpiece to achieve a timbre difference from the trumpets is mostly what you would need. _________________ (List horns here) |
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deleted_user_687c31b New Member
Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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AJCarter wrote: | Orchestral and wind band settings are somewhat different, but present the same challenge that Crazy Finn noted: being heard over the group. In orchestra there are typically only two individual cornet parts. In wind groups they usually are doubled.
Part of this is maybe not using traditional mouthpieces but the other part is not using British styled cornets. More orchestral, long style cornets are (supposed to be) designed to cut more than the short British style ones. This plus a complementary mouthpiece to achieve a timbre difference from the trumpets is mostly what you would need. |
I think I understand. Is the mouthpiece nice enough that you'd think with enough practice, the OP may eventually be able to play loud enough? |
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AJCarter Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 1280 Location: Indiana
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 4:19 am Post subject: |
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Loudness has nothing to do with it, plus at some point that will distort the cornet sound and void the point of using cornet. Volume does not equal projection. That's why cornets fell out of favor to the trumpet. British style cornets with super deep funnel like mouthpieces are not meant to cut like say, a Bach long style cornet with a Bach no letter mouthpiece. _________________ (List horns here) |
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nltrumpet Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Nov 2019 Posts: 206 Location: Washington DC
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 5:39 am Post subject: |
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If it works, it works. If you have a group that keeps the more traditional instrumentation (using cornets, not doubling everything to form the largest band possible) the BBC could work pretty well. |
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