From courts to concert halls: an historical overview on the development of the modern trumpet ensemble

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Date

2020-05-03

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Publisher

Indiana University

Abstract

While one can find a wealth of literature on the historical trumpet ensembles indicative of the Renaissance and Baroque eras, little information exists detailing the development of their modern counterpart. The modern trumpet ensemble refers to an ensemble made up of various types of valved trumpets, which can also include closely related instruments often performed by contemporary trumpeters, such as cornets or flugelhorns. For the sake of this document, a trumpet ensemble must have a minimum of at least four distinct written parts. Over the last several decades, this genre of brass chamber music has grown to span the globe with numerous students, professionals, and amateurs performing its repertoire each year. This document aims to outline how the genre developed and provide greater context to the individuals and entities that have had a profound impact on it. Starting at the turn of the 20th century, one can trace the origins of the modern trumpet ensemble to professional cornet and trumpet quartets active in the United States. While only a handful of these groups existed, they did present audiences with the earliest examples of trumpet ensemble music performed on valved instruments. Concurrent with these ensembles and up to the 1960s, a few composers also wrote a select number of works for trumpet ensemble though the genre remained obscure. Beginning in the 1960s and continuing in the 1970s, however, the modern trumpet ensemble began to take shape and expand as university programs created trumpet ensembles for their students and musicians formed the first contemporary professional groups. The founding of the International Trumpet Guild in 1975 also had a major impact as the organization committed itself to developing and legitimizing the genre. Over the next few decades, trumpet ensembles became a standard part of university prog rams across the United States, more professional ensembles came into existence, and the repertoire of trumpet ensemble music continued to increase. More recently, the founding of the National Trumpet Competition in 1991 and the creation of its trumpet ensemble division in 1997 has had a large impact on the genre by increasing the popularity and accessibility of trumpet ensemble music, raising the level of performance, and serving as an endless source of new repertoire. As of today, practically every trumpeter will participate in trumpet ensemble music in some capacity during their life making the genre a valued component of trumpet related music. The first chapter of this document will detail the historical trumpet ensembles of the past in order to provide context for how trumpet ensemble music existed for much of the instrument’s history. After this discussion, the following chapters will focus on the history and influence of the three most impactful entities on the genre, the International Trumpet Guild, university programs and their participation in the National Trumpet Competition, and professional ensembles. Lastly, the document will conclude with a comprehensive bibliography of published repertoire for the modern trumpet ensemble to serve as a resource for those wishing to further engage this music.

Description

Thesis (DM) – Indiana University, Music, 2020

Keywords

Trumpet, Trumpet Ensemble, Brass Chamber Music

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Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa)

Type

D. Mus.