Wednesday, May 21 – 4:30pm
Lecture: Verena Barth
Moudy Building Room 320 South

“2oth Century Trumpet Soloists”

At the beginning of the 20th century, the trumpet was rarely used as a solo instrument in classical music in Europe. Although the trumpet parts in the symphony orchestras became more difficult to play, as well as more soloistic, the trumpet was not used in front of the orchestra as a solo instrument. Instead it was used as a solo instrument in popular music (e.g. virtuoso pieces with brass bands). This situation is deeply rooted in the musical and social changes in the late 18th and the 19th century. In 1908, when the Haydn concerto was rediscovered, the image of the trumpet began to change. Also, the performances of baroque trumpet music in the original pitch stabilized the role of the trumpet as a classical solo instrument. Many other important aspects, mainly also from outside the classical area, (as jazz and film music) has influenced the role of the trumpet as a solo instrument and helped it gain new symbolic value so that it once again has become a highly respected solo instrument of the kind that is often heard in major concert halls. The new position of the trumpet is related to a substantial amount of contemporary trumpet music. Also, an interesting cooperation of trumpet artists and composers is taking place in our days.

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Verena Barth: The Role of the Trumpet as a Classical and Solo Instrument in Europe from 1900 to the Present

Karl Sievers, reporter

Verena Barth is a doctoral student of Reine Dahlqvist. She presented research on the evolution of the role of the trumpet in western music from the Baroque to the present. Ms. Barth’s presentation was recited from notes in a quiet voice with no microphone, so it was a bit difficult to hear. The information presented was very solid, nut-and-bolts material that all students and graduate students should know, and in that context was extremely valuable to those in attendance.