Tine Thing Helseth!

It’s a little out of season to feature this familiar tune, but a trumpet sound like this never goes out of season. Please check out Tine-she’s got at least one solo cd out with more on the way. She’s an EMI Classics artist.

Other videos:

Bruckner Symphony No. 7 – Herseth shows how it’s done

I’m currently working up Bruckner Symphony No. 7 for an upcoming concert. After listening to a few recordings, I decided to consult YouTube for some more interpretations. I found a real gem of a performance, the Chicago Symphony under Solti. Bud Herseth is an unrelenting powerhouse with endurance for days. He can play a full page at practically full tilt only to sound light and BEAUTIFUL for the next pp entrance, like it was the first entrance of the piece. Bud’s sound is singing, heroic, illuminating, commanding, whispering, magic, and the view into the man’s heart. There’s a reason he is the gold standard of trumpet playing.

National Brass Symposium master class

Here’s an excellent video of orchestral brass playing. It’s the famous chorale in the 5th movement of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony. Note the trumpet section is made up of the principals of the New York Philharmonic (Philip Smith), Cleveland Orchestra (Michael Sachs), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Chris Martin), and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (Tom Rolfs).

Here’s another of the opening of Also Sprach Zarathustra. Personnel is slightly different. I really like the conducting of Michael Mulcahy (2nd trombone with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra). Do you?

How about Tchaikovsky’s 4th?

Snooky Young, R.I.P.

One of the great lead trumpet players of all time has passed away. Famous for playing with the Count Basie Orchestra, the Tonight Show Band, and many others, Snooky epitomized the style, panache, musicality, and leadership of the big band lead trumpet chair. Enjoy these clips!


Playing lead with the Count Basie Orchestra 1962.

Thomas Hooten plays Turrin’s Chronicles

Here’s a fantastic clip of Thomas Hooten, principal trumpet of the Atlanta Symphony, performing with the U.S. Air Force Band at the 2011 National Trumpet Competition. The piece is the third movement of Chronicles by Joesph Turrin. Thomas displays a singing, resonant, focused sound in all registers with incredible articulation clarity. Note the great playing/accompanying of the Air Force band. Enjoy!