A piccolo or D for Baroque?

[nextbrassguy]

As Easter looms and I look forward to playing Handel in church, I wonder if others would care to state their preferences between the A picc and the D (or something else???) for the Baroque literature? I've already made my choice, so I'm not asking for advice. Just curious what others prefer.

[jophst]

I find that I am more fluid and consistent on a Picc. I prefer the extra resistance that it provides ... it is also good for my endurance as a result also. It depends which piece you are playing also.

My longbell picc works great though ...

My vote: PICC
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[KevinInGeorgia]

I like using my Picc for it but I've also done it on D..
I think it depends on what sound your looking for & the size of the choir..

The arrangement of Halleluiah Chorus we play is for Choir, Organ & 2 trumpets.. I play the first part on Picc & 2nd player uses his C trumpet.( He doesn't own a D trumpet )

Now I feel a little different about "The Trumpet Shall Sound" .. If I was doing that I would use the D trumpet.. I just like the sound of it better for that piece..

I like doing most of the Baroque Wedding Literature on Picc.

Kevin
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Kevin M.
Sounds of Sawnee Community Band

“Heroes turn into martyrs on this instrument.” ~ William Vacchiano

[trumpetchops]

This will be my first year doing everything on D
I like the sound of the D trumpet better.
I do agree that the picc. is easier but I can do it on D so why not?

I am also playing Let The Bright Seraphim.
I will play that on D too.

You said that you had your mind made up.
What will you use?

[trumpetmike]

I tend to prefer the piccolo for my baroque pieces. It has taken me a long time to develop a piccolo sound that I am happy to use for baroque literature, but now that I have one (tend towards the softer sound) I am happy to use that instrument.

There are some pieces that I will do on a D trumpet, however. Usually this is due to the range that they cover. If I am playing a piece such as Let the Bright Seraphim, which requires a written low G for a D trumpet, I will use my D. That note is practically unobtainable (with any decency of tone) on my piccolo. I also prefer using a D for playing second in the Messiah.

[nextbrassguy]

Thanks for the responses all.
Trumpetchops, I've settled on the D for orchestral and choral work. For my taste, the picc is a bit bright for these situations. For solo work with an organ, I generally prefer like the sound of my picc; here brighter is OK, IMO.

[brad333]

I've never really found a need to play D trumpet. I would prefer to play it on picc if it's a baroque solo or wedding piece and on C for orchestral stuff(handel, haydn, mozart, etc).

[6pk]

I use a Scherzer Picc for all Baroque stuff(except brandenberg, which I won't do for less than a miollion pounds so I'm fairly safe there,) and find that the sound is warmer on that than I can find on anything else. In fact i don't even own a D trumpet. But its the only Piccolo I really like the sound of in Baroque music, for me it has fantastic blending qualities (so we don't upset the singers!) much like a Natural Trumpet.

[gus]

I don't think that using a D will be right with
8-12 strings and a harpsichord ( Normally you
will play with this qty ). THe picc allow
to play with less volume. The D is big even
some G's are a little big.

If you play in a Church with a big organ I think
you can use either the D and Picc. Anyway I
use the picc. I use the D for 3rd on Christmas
Oratorio and that stuff.

Gus

[fuzzyjon79]

If I have a D trumpet part... I'll take an A Piccolo anyday over a D trumpet!
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