What's new

The real reason I haven't purchased samples in over a year

0129191212b_HDR.jpg
And a German Tenor Horn! Something that Americans know nothing about. This is the horn that Mahler wrote for in his 7th symphony. It is not a Wagner Tuba although it looks like one. A Wagner Tuba is played by the left hand and uses a horn mouthpiece. The German Tenor Horn uses a mouthpiece similar to a trombone but a little smaller and V shaped. It has a sound that is more like an English Baritone, a sound between a trombone and euphonium, but with the addition of a (French) horn sound. It can cut through an ensemble more than a euphonium but its lower ranger sounds thinner. If a tenor line was divided into chords of 3 tones I would place the tenor horn on 1st and the euphonium on the lower 3rd. I can sound almost as mellow as an euphonium on the German Tenor Horn but I've noticed that one of my students definitely sounds more cylindrical baritone than conical euphonium.
 
One of the main goals is to form a brass ensemble with a spiritual sound that not only echoes the past but touches the present also. This ensemble was inspired by the instruments of the American Civil War, English brass bands, and the German-Austria Moravian tradition minus the trombones trying to stay with only valves for a more chordal sound. In the end we will have 3 cornets, flugelhorn, German Tenor Horn, Euphonium, Bass Trumpet, and Tuba.
 

Attachments

  • 0107191702c_HDR.jpg
    0107191702c_HDR.jpg
    195 KB · Views: 50
Sounds like a very cool project! It is becoming more and more uncommon to hear live music at all when just "out and about". But to hear live brass music is even harder, unless it is a Salvation Army Christmas brass band.

There is a clear place for brass in the epic music currently in vogue, but for an instrument like the euphonium that is a magnificently mellow solo voice.... what is there? Same with the German tenor horn - there are ensembles for that in Europe, but as you say, here in America? I've never heard one, and I never see anyone bring the tenor horn to play Mahler, but I have seen them in clips of European orchestras.

My observation is that film music = orchestral music = classical music for most "average" folk in the population. They really don't know the difference, and most could not identify many of the woodwind or brass instruments outside the ones that are in jazz bands and pop horn sections. ie. People know about flutes. But not oboes and english horns. People know trumpets and trombones, but not a euphonium.

There is so much expression possible with any of the wind instruments, and it is a good work to expose people to these beautiful sounds and blends.
 
So basically I've been pouring all my resources in producing music for live performances because of commissions and personal gigs. Plus, I've basically created a horn or redesigned an instrument from the 1800's and modernize it with modern tunings, triggers, better projection, and free blowing. It's a rotary-valved cornet with a 100 year-old bell, German designed valves, 4 tuning lead or mouth pipes, plated in 14 karat gold and the places I touch in rhodium. This horn was built by Dr. Bill Jones, and I guess we are going to call it the Money Cornet. I am looking to also hire an engraver from Virginia to add detail to the rotary valves and other sections. Thank you for letting me share! received_2196624333990745~2.jpeg received_343225139835267.jpeg received_304746263502683~2.jpeg
The sound clip was simply recorded on my phone.


I hear some bumps in the dynamic crossfades and a bit laggy legato. Beautiful sound though! When will it be released?
 
And here it is! My custom built Bass Trumpet! It is a Bill Jones custom bass trumpet. The rotary valves came from the part of Europe called “Moravia,” a company from the 1800’s called Joseph Lidl, the bell is over 75 years-old from Germany, and the rest of the vintage tubing and tuning triggers were hand built. The horn shines like gold, but it is all polished raw brass.
94E25A0D-E87E-41DC-A5C9-83E9DBB5C3BD.jpeg
 
And here it is! My custom built Bass Trumpet! It is a Bill Jones custom bass trumpet. The rotary valves came from the part of Europe called “Moravia,” a company from the 1800’s called Joseph Lidl, the bell is over 75 years-old from Germany, and the rest of the vintage tubing and tuning triggers were hand built. The horn shines like gold, but it is all polished raw brass.
94E25A0D-E87E-41DC-A5C9-83E9DBB5C3BD.jpeg
got to ask. This looks bigger than a normal trumpet. Will it make it louder or more full sounding? Or both? Sometimes trumpets sound a little thin for me.

Looks cool though. I hope they put a finish on it. Shining that much brass can be a pain!
 
Top Bottom