[Trombone-l] Chinese bass trumpets? (Neeme wants to know)

[Walter Barrett]

With all due respect to Maestro Jarvi, but for the average player, it  
becomes a matter of Return of Investment. First, there are only 11  
pieces in all the repertoire that call for bass trumpet. I have gotten  
to play my bass trumpet with an orchestra exactly twice in the past 35  
years. The Maestro has probably conducted more performances of those  
pieces than any of us could ever conceive of. Yes, they are important  
parts, and they must be played well, but for the average player to  
know the parts and own an instrument that will, in all likelihood,  
never be used, is a bit unrealistic. Jarvi looks at it from the  
viewpoint of a renowned conductor, jetting around the world, doing  
lots of performances of these pieces all over the place. I look at it  
from the viewpoint of someone who has invested a lot of time and money  
getting ready to play those parts, and has only performed them twice  
in his lifetime. If he wants it to be part of the normal audition  
process, then write it into the players contract that the job requires  
doubling on bass trumpet, and pay the player more. Time to put Jarvi's  
money where the mouth is.

I would also entertain the notion of being on retainer as Maestro  
Jarvi's personal bass trumpeter. I'll throw in tenor tuba for not too  
much more.

With all that said, I can refer you to this thread on the Trombone  
Forum with a discussion of the JinBao bass trumpet, a copy of the  
Josef Lidl. I believe the JinBao's are also sold with the Selman name.

http://tromboneforum.org/index.php/topic,34169.msg464765.html#msg464765


On Jul 25, 2008, at 9:05 AM, George Butler wrote:

>
> Anyway, if you're still with me:  Neeme wants to know, does this
> Chinese maker make a bass trumpet?  Is there a Chinese version of
> the Dotzauer available?
>
>
>
> "Because," he continues, "bass trumpet very, very important in
> Wagner.  And, 'Rite of Spring.'  Very, very important.
> Very, very important.  Young players MUST LEARN these important
> parts, because VERY, VERY important.  Especially Wagner.
> Especially Stravinsky."
>
>
>
> Now, you'd think that the New Jersey S.O., or the Residentie Orchestra
> in The Hague, or the New Japan Philharmonic, or the Detroit Symphony,
> or the Göteborg Symphony, or the Cincinnati S.O. would have the money
> to buy whatever they need.  But, Maestro Neeme thinks it is VERY
> IMPORTANT for aspiring orchestral players to learn Wagner.  And
> Stravinsky.  "Very Important," he repeats.  Should be a part
> of the audition process, so get your own horn, he thinks.
>
>
>
> Now, I DO apologize if the answer to Neeme's question has been  
> recently
> covered.  I seem to recall Eric Swanson asking if the current
> batch of Chinese valved instruments are an improvement over those of
> the previous generation.  Something about valve tolerances being
> tougher to get right than getting tubing for slides parallel.
>
>
>
> Any suggestions on inexpensive bass trumpets?  (Because, Neeme wants  
> to know.)
>



Walter Barrett

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
	-Philip K. Dick

Alto, tenor, bass trombones
Bass trumpet, euphonium, tuba
Yamaha Artist/Clinician
http://www.walterbarrett.com