TrumpetChat

OLDLOU · Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 5:54 pm Post subject: church music

In my many years of playing the trumpet/cornet the majority of my experience has been playing along with the song service in various evangelistic churches. This has been to enhance and encourage the congregation to sing. Along with this came the improvisation on those hymns that made it fun and in some cases easier to play the given hymn. I discovered after several years that my experience in brass bands and clasical orchestras had taught me chromatic scales, double and triple toungeing which then forced me into some gospel solo work. This all comes down to one thing. Classical experience taught me the skills needed to improvise well. I sometimes wonder at inexperienced jazz players who have not paid their dues with the classics and wonder if they will ever know success trying to play jazz.

david johnson · High C Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 76 Location: arkansas

oldlou:

i'm from an a-cappella fellowship myself, none of them-there devil horns allowed in worship!! Very Happy

i have used my trumpet abilities among various denominations when needed, though.

i think your terms 'skills' & 'inexperienced' are the key words in your comments. we all need to avail ourselves of the techniques regarding trumpeting used in various genres.

dj

TrumpetChat · Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject:

Do you use a C trumpet in your church usually? Or do you transpose?

david johnson · High C Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 76 Location: arkansas

i use a C. used to be bach 239 ml, now it's schilke C7.

dj

OLDLOU · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:59 pm Post subject: transposition

I have transposed to play with a piano/organ for so long that I sometimes get lost in my mind, as to whether I am supposed to be transposing or playing the score as written.
I have even gone to the church pianist/organist telling them that if the song leader selects any hymns that are written in multiple sharps that they should play them in flats; 3 sharps= four flats, four sharps = three flats,etc.. When transposed the cornetist ends up with two less flats in any key instead of two more sharps. It makes it much easier and the congregation never knows the difference.

bandman · Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:19 am Post subject:

As a band director I transpose everyday while playing with my students. The ability to pick up your trumpet and go play off the sax music is vital to demonstration of styles and articulation. As a result, I know my horn "inside and out" and can think in many different keys at once. I have very good relative pitch (far from perfect) but I can sing a pitch off a score no matter what instrument I'm looking at.

In church this came in handy for years. I did transpose for many years, and still do from time to time, especially if I'm using my flugel.

I chose the horn I use on church according to the tonal quality I'm looking for. I carry a Schilke Bb/A Picc, a Bach Bb, Harrelson750/Bach C and a flugel horn when I do a church gig. Like a carpenter, I chose my "hammer" according to the desired result.

Here is a picture of my C -- it is my favorite horn!!! It's a Harrelson 750 modification of a Bach. It's the best horn I've ever played.

_________________
"To be a teacher you need to be as good a performer as you can be: you'll have more to impart to your students musically." - John Haynie

OLDLOU · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:19 am Post subject: church music

While listening to an old 33 1/3 record of Bill Pierce on the trombone yesterday evening, I was reminded that Bill had told me repeatedly while practicing trombone cornet duets that I should " always make the horn sing." His attitude about Christian music was that when playing hymns on any musical instrument that the listeners should always be able to think the words of the hymn while the musician played the music. He also said that," the musical score of the hymn is nothing more than a vehicle for the message". Many times I have to restrain myself from demonstrating my extreme high note ability or my technical expertise, just to make fine music.
Bill was one of the finest trombonists that I have ever heard. He had a radio program on Moody Bible Institute's radio station for many years.

Bri · Low C Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 11

clevemcs · Middle C Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 25 Location: Montana

I also play a lot at church and transpose at site. I also have descants to play and Like Lou I forget that I am supposed to play the chart as it is written instead of transpose. Man you talking about a descant a descant out of key will make a dog howl and quickly remind you that you dont have to transpose that chart.
Hymns are a good source of warmups and endurance builder in practice if you have the entire hymnal on cd like I have. On the cd they play all verses.

Its Clobberin' Time · Low C Joined: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 8