What's the question, Aaron? That the instrument is called bass
trumpet? Yes the low Bb and C instrument is always called bass. I and
many others have merely observed that it would more logically be called
tenor.
The Janacek Sinfonietta bass trumpet part (2 in unison) is unusually
low. Hard to get a good sound that loud on any bass trumpet I've ever
played. Fun to try, though! I would like to know what instruments the
composer had available.
I can still get arguments over the tenor tuba parts in that work. Even
though I am a devoted euphonium player, I think it is clear that those
parts should be played on Wagner tubas, since the 3rd and 4th horns drop
out when the brass band returns in the finale. I have not seen the new
edition of the work, though.
The Rite of Spring Eb "bass trumpet" should be called alto. It is a
double for the 5th C trumpet. But the part creates another problem,
because Stravinsky exceeds the range, going down to the written low F
(concert Ab) which is difficult or impossible to reach on an Eb
instrument, and very low for a trumpet player indeed. So the part is
often played on a Bb bass trumpet by a trombonist, which generally
means two players on that part. (Or the 5th trumpet player can play
the tutti parts, which are not low, on C trumpet, and a trombonist can
switch back and forth for the bass trumpet solos. We did this one
weekend on an emergency, when a player went in the hospital an hour
before concert time.)
RBH
Aaron Rabushka wrote:
Janacek's bass trumpets in the Sinfonietta, anyone? of the e-flat "bass"
trumpet in the Rite of Spring?
Aaron J. Rabushka
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://users.waymark.net/arabushk
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